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Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Heading to Auction With $5,250,000 Estimate

Back when the Project One and Mercedes-AMG weren’t even a thing, the three-pointed star used to race in the GT1 class with the CLK GTR. Codenamed W297, the mid-engine supercar came to be as a homologation special. Of the 25 models ever produced for the public road, chassis 09/25 is up for grabs.
Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR 18 photos
Photo: RM Sotheby’s
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RM Sotheby’s are entitled to sell the limited-edition supercar, with the auction set for the end of August at the Monterey Conference Center in California during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. As the headline implies, the estimate on this lot ranges from $4.25 million to $5.25 million.

The car is in pristine condition, showing 1,440 kilometers (895 miles) on the odometer. Even though the speedometer goes up to 340 km/h (211 mph), the CLK GTR can accelerate to 344 km/h (214 mph) provided that you can find a long enough stretch of road. For reference, the Project One is expected to exceed 350 km/h (217 mph) thanks to advanced aerodynamic trickery and a hybrid setup inspired by the powertrain of the W07 fielded in Formula 1.

Conceived as a racing car from the get-go, the three-owner vehicle is a sound investment without a shadow of a doubt. Delivered in Germany, exported to Hong Kong, then brought to the United States of America by the current owner, chassis 09/25 was inspected by Marc Kienle of Kienle Automobiltechnik. According to him, the old-timer was determined to feature all of its original body, engine, and drivetrain.

If you insist, there’s an aftermarket add-on that should be mentioned for the sake of originality. According to RM Sotheby’s, the belly panel isn’t original though the factory-sourced part is stored for safekeeping to avoid marring during transport. As for servicing, the CLK GTR features new filters and fuel bladder, with every single one of the replacement parts sourced from none other than Mercedes-Benz.

When it was imported to the U.S. of A., chassis 09/25 was entrusted to J.K. Technologies to perform the federalization procedures that were completed in April 2018. On that note, the sale doesn’t include only the car.

In addition to the V12-powered German interloper, the seller is much obliged to give the winning bidder auxiliaries such as the AMG SPS tool chest, owner’s manuals and service booklets, service documentation, spare keys, and first aid kit. And yes, the air compressor and tanks, hazard triangle, and torque wrench are also included and just as original.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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