The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster stands as an automotive unicorn, an ultra-rare machine with a lineage steeped in racing history. This particular model, boasting a mere 22 kilometers on its odometer, is virtually untouched, preserved in a private Saudi Arabian collection. It represents one of just six roadster variants ever brought into existence, an exceptional feat of engineering and a direct descendant of one of the most celebrated GT race cars of the late 1990s.
Alt text: Front three-quarter view of a silver Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster showcasing its aggressive aerodynamic design and open-top configuration, emphasizing its low profile and wide stance.
The genesis of the CLK-GTR lies in Mercedes-Benz’s ambition to conquer the FIA GT Championship. To satisfy homologation mandates, Mercedes-Benz was compelled to produce a limited run of street-legal versions of their GT1 race car – the very car they campaigned on the track. FIA GT regulations stipulated that manufacturers must create at least 25 road-going iterations of their GT1 entrants. This rule ensured that race cars were fundamentally rooted in production models, rather than being purely prototype designs.
Mercedes-Benz adhered to these regulations, crafting 20 coupes and a mere 6 roadsters. The inaugural street-legal version emerged in late 1998. The roadster variant, introduced subsequently, achieved even greater exclusivity. Its open-top architecture distinguished it as a truly unique iteration within the already highly limited CLK-GTR family. Both coupe and roadster versions bore an almost identical engineering blueprint to their racing counterparts. Minor modifications were implemented to accommodate road use, including a slightly elevated ride height and the addition of comfort-oriented features.
Beneath the skin, the CLK-GTR Roadster housed a formidable 6.9-liter V12 engine, a derivative of the racing engine, unleashing 612 horsepower. This powertrain propelled the car from 0 to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds, reaching a top speed of approximately 208 mph. The CLK-GTR reigned as one of the most potent and rapid vehicles of its era, delivering a raw, race-car-like driving experience on public roads that few other cars could rival.
Alt text: Close-up view of the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR’s V12 engine bay, highlighting the powerful 6.9-liter engine, carbon fiber components, and intricate engineering details, emphasizing the car’s racing-derived technology.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR was originally conceived for the 1997 FIA GT Championship season. It immediately asserted its dominance, becoming a force to be reckoned with. Equipped with a 6.0-liter V12 engine and advanced aerodynamics, the race-spec CLK-GTR clinched the championship title in its debut year, firmly establishing Mercedes-Benz’s prowess in the GT1 category. Remarkably, the car was developed in a mere 128 days, a testament to the exceptional engineering capabilities of Mercedes-AMG. The CLK-GTR continued its triumphant streak in 1998, securing another FIA GT Championship title, although it began to face increased competition from rivals like Porsche and Toyota.
Following the FIA GT Championship’s discontinuation of the GT1 category after the 1998 season, Mercedes-Benz shifted its focus towards the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race. They developed the Mercedes-Benz CLR, an evolved iteration of the CLK-GTR, specifically engineered for endurance racing. However, the CLR’s 1999 Le Mans campaign is unfortunately remembered for critical aerodynamic instability issues. The cars notoriously became airborne at high speeds during both practice sessions and the race itself, resulting in dramatic and concerning crashes. These incidents prompted Mercedes-Benz to withdraw from top-tier endurance racing for several years thereafter.
This particular CLK-GTR Roadster, displaying a mere 22 kilometers, represents a pristine embodiment of the road-going manifestation of Mercedes’ GT1 racing legacy. The open-top design of the roadster variant amplifies its rarity, adding an extra layer of exclusivity to what was already an incredibly limited-production, high-performance supercar.
Alt text: Rear view of the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, showing its wide rear wing, diffuser, and taillights, emphasizing its track-focused design and powerful rear stance.
With its roots firmly planted in racing history, the CLK-GTR Roadster endures as one of the most significant homologation specials ever created. The convergence of extreme rarity, a direct bloodline to a championship-winning race car, and its immaculate, untouched condition solidifies its status as a highly coveted collector’s item. Witnessing one of these vehicles in such pristine form is akin to stepping back into the golden era of GT1 racing.