I am selling one of six RHD Mercedes CLK DTM Cabriolets

AMG might want you to believe it’s as much a technology company as an engine manufacturer these days, but it’s still very much a master builder of barmy ‘bahnstormers. Only a few years ago it drastically changed the architecture of its M178 twin-turbo V8 to accommodate a flat crank for the GT Black Series, and it’s easy to forget (because of all the setbacks) that it built a hypercar around it. The 1.6 liter F1 engine that dominated the early years of the sport’s hybrid era.

Even after diving into EV tuning and experimenting with highly impressive (if not all that appealing) hybrid technology for the four-cylinder C63, AMG hasn’t lost its knack for putting together something crazy. However, it’s been a while since he came up with something as frankly insane as the CLK DTM: partly because the days of prototype silhouettes in DTM are long gone, with the series now using GT3 machines to keep the cost lid down, and there’s no sign about AMG ditching its GT racer for something based on the CLE (distant successor to the CLK) soon for obvious reasons.

Sure, the aforementioned GT Black has the makings of a race car, but the CLK DTM was different: a proper skunkworks project that, in a way, served as a proof of concept for the now-legendary Black Series cars. . Although associated with the racer by name, this road car had little in common with the DTM machine. The 5.4-liter V8 was carried over from the CLK 55 road car, only with a supercharger attached to it for a whopping 582 horsepower. Not only was it 200bhp more than the 55, but it was much more powerful than the 4.0-litre, race-developed V8 used by the DTM racer. For a more modern point of reference, the all-new AMG GT 63 produces only 3 hp more – 20 years since the DTM.

Meanwhile, the bodywork was made of carbon fiber and shaped to resemble the DTM machines. The large “vents” integrated into the wheel arches with huge blisters were fake, but a huge amount of work went into adapting the chassis to the bigger brakes and mechanical limited-slip differential. AMG ripped out most of the interior, replaced much of the trim with carbon fiber, and installed a set of part-leather, part-Alcantara seats – something that had never been done before. The company would refine the formula, lower the price and increase production numbers with subsequent Black Series models, but few matched the sheer excess and madness of the DTM.

Neither of the BS cars was offered with a removable roof. After the production of 100 DTM coupés, AMG went on to develop a Cabriolet version with the same exaggerated looks and performance as the hardtop car. The only major difference (apart from the missing roof) was the retention of the rear seats, albeit with a slight twist. The seats were essentially molded into a custom carbon fiber rear bench with pieces of Alcantara-covered padding glued on. Comfortable? Probably not, but who cares when they’re riding in the back of Merc’s craziest boots ever?

Some argue Cabrios aren’t “true” DTM, but if they’re good enough for Mika Hakinen and Juan Pablo Montoya, who are we to judge? In addition, they are even rarer than coupes, with only 80 made in total and only six right-hand drive – this car being one of them. It won’t be a big surprise that you’ll have to contact the seller to find out the price, but this white example in Germany costs €580,000 (or £488,000) should give you an idea. how much to put aside Alternatively, you can get this very rare CLK 63 convertible for much, much less.