An ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, one out of 25 road-legal examples built for FIA GT homologation purposes, will go on sale at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance next month.
The championship started 24 years ago. Mercedes-Benz, AMG and British firm Lola Composites spent 128 days designing a test mule based on a purpose-built Lola chassis and a six-liter V12 (M120 derivative).
The road-legal CLK GTR Strassenversion resembled its FIA GT racecar cousin from the outside and the inside, as it was based on the same racer platform. Its M297 Series 6.9-liter V12 pumped out 612 PS (603 hp / 450 kW) and 775 Nm (572 lb-ft) of torque in conjunction with an Xrac sequential transmission. The suspension benefited from redesigned, road-friendlier shock absorbers and springs.
A total of 20 such coupes and only 5 roadsters left the factory, this particular example bearing the chassis number 09. With only 1,442 km (896 miles) on the counter, it is reported to be completely stock.
Bidding is expected to reach $8.5-$10 million USD. The same car changed ownership for $4,515,000 three years ago, so it looks like it might have doubled in value since then (or the estimations could be wrong).