Mercedes Benz CLK GTK SS

Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR SS

The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is a grand tourer and race car that was built by Mercedes-AMG, performance and motorsports arm of Mercedes-Benz. Intended for racing in the new FIA GT Championship series in 1997, the CLK GTR was designed primarily as a race car, with the road cars necessary in order to meethomologation standards being secondary in the car’s design. Thus the limited production road-going cars were considered racing cars for the road.

After competing successfully in 1997, the race car was upgraded in 1998 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and renamed the CLK LM. Following the construction of the CLK LMs and the CLK GTR road cars, the project would end in 1999 by being replaced by the Mercedes-Benz CLR Le Mans prototype.

After the completion of the 20 original CLK GTRs, AMG’s specialist group H.W.A., who had assisted in the construction of the CLK GTRs, began construction of a roadster version of the CLK GTR. Built either by modifying an existing CLK GTR or by building a new car from spare chassis and parts, these cars were modified with the removal of their roofs as well as a reconstruction of their engine covers. Also the rearwing was replaced by a separate black wing, close to the one on the race CLK-GTR. Further the Roadster can be recognized by its different grille, which had a large star in it instead of a small version above it. Two rollbars integrating the cockpit headrests were used not only for structural integrity, but also rollover protection. A total of six CLK GTR Roadsters were built by the company.

H.W.A. also constructed a second variant, known as the CLK GTR Super Sport. These cars were similar to CLK GTRs, yet were powered instead by the newerMercedes-AMG 7.3L V12 which had been in use in the Pagani Zonda and Mercedes-Benz SL73 AMG. The car also gained an additional front splitter for better stability at high speeds. Only five were built with the 7.3L engine: prototype #2, chassis #01, #03, #13, and #17. Only one of them was badged as the SuperSport (#17).

In total, 26 CLK-GTR production road versions were constructed. Of these 26, 20 are coupes and six are roadsters. Two of these were equipped with RHD steering: one coupe (silver exterior/tartan interior) and one roadster (dark silver exterior/magenta interior). These were constructed for Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei.Both RHD cars were auctioned on 28 October 2009 by RM Auctions in London.