Buy This Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and Live Out Your GT1 Dreams

Homologation specials built for motorsport can range from the relatively mundane to the downright unhinged. This 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster falls into the latter category, with RM Sotheby’s estimating that the roadgoing GT1 racer will trade hands for an eight figure sum at its ongoing Las Vegas auction.

As a refresher, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR arrived on the scene in 1997, following the previous success of the McLaren F1 and Porsche 911 GT1 in the FIA’s GT1 series. Sharing only its headlights with the standard CLK model, the GTR is centered around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Racing cars came equipped with a mid-mounted 6.0-liter V-12 competition version of the M120 already found in production 600-series Benzes (and, later, Paganis), whereas roadcars got a more street-friendly version stroked to 6.9-liters. In the road car it produces 622 hp and 539 lb-ft. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential box. A total of 28 examples of the car were built to satisfy homologation requirements for the series, with two prototypes, 20 coupes and six roadsters made in total. The racing cars would go on to dominate GT1, taking home 17 wins in 22 outings during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. FIA canned the series for 1999, cementing the GTR’s position atop of the heap.

This particular car is the third roadster produced by Mercedes-Benz, and thanks to only having traveled 105 miles, the car remains in nearly-as-new condition. Part of the reason for the low mileage might be the fact that the GTR was never actually sold here in the United States, and will require the next owner to file show-and-display paperwork. To that same end, the car will need a service before its next owner decides to go for a drive, as the car has been on static display since 2018.