2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster

The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster is one of the rarest and most exclusive cars in automotive history, and with just 22 kilometers on the odometer, this example is essentially untouched. Owned in a private Saudi collection, this car is one of only six roadsters ever produced, making it a remarkable piece of engineering and a direct descendant of one of the most iconic race cars of the late 1990s.

The CLK-GTR was born from Mercedes-Benz’s pursuit of dominance in the FIA GT Championship. To meet homologation rules, Mercedes was required to produce a small number of road-going versions of their GT1 race car, the same car they campaigned on the track. The FIA GT Championship required manufacturers to build at least 25 street-legal versions of their GT1 entries, ensuring that the race cars were based on production models, rather than pure prototypes.

Mercedes-Benz complied by producing 20 coupes and 6 roadsters, with the first street version being completed in late 1998. The roadster variant, introduced later, was even more exclusive, with its open-top design making it a unique variant of the already scarce CLK-GTR. Both the coupe and roadster versions were nearly identical to the race cars in terms of engineering, with minor changes made for road use, such as slightly higher ride height and added comfort features.

Under the hood, the CLK-GTR Roadster was powered by a 6.9-liter V12, derived from the racing version, producing 612 horsepower. This allowed the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds, with a top speed of around 208 mph. The CLK-GTR was one of the most powerful and fastest cars of its time, offering a racing experience on the road that very few cars could match.

The Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR was initially designed for the 1997 FIA GT Championship, where it quickly established itself as a dominant force. With its 6.0-liter V12 engine and advanced aerodynamics, the race-spec CLK-GTR won the championship in its debut year, securing Mercedes' reputation in the GT1 category. The car was developed in just 128 days, a testament to the engineering prowess of Mercedes-AMG. The CLK-GTR continued its success in 1998, securing another FIA GT Championship title, though it later faced stiffer competition from Porsche and Toyota.

After the FIA GT Championship canceled its GT1 category following the 1998 season, Mercedes-Benz turned its focus to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, developing the Mercedes-Benz CLR. The CLR was a refined evolution of the CLK-GTR, designed specifically for endurance racing. However, the CLR’s Le Mans campaign in 1999 is remembered for a major issue with aerodynamic instability. The car infamously took flight at high speeds during practice and the race itself, resulting in dramatic crashes. These accidents led Mercedes-Benz to withdraw from top-level endurance racing for years afterward.

This particular CLK-GTR Roadster, with only 22 kilometers, is a pristine example of the road-going version of Mercedes’ GT1 racing heritage. The open-top design of the roadster variant is especially rare, adding a layer of exclusivity to what was already a limited-production, high-performance supercar.

With its origins deeply rooted in racing history, the CLK-GTR Roadster stands as one of the most significant homologation cars ever produced. The combination of its extreme rarity, direct lineage to a championship-winning race car, and untouched condition makes it a coveted collector's item. Seeing one of these in such pristine condition is like stepping back in time to the golden age of GT1 racing.