1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR up for auction

One of only 25 examples of the ballistic Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR is set to go under the hammer in the upcoming RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction.

Now two-decades-old, the GTR is essentially a Le Mans race car modified for road use, one of several in its class born of the FIA’s GT1 regulations.

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While cars like the McLaren F1 went from being road cars to race cars, the CLK GTR did things the other way around.

Everything from its 6.9-litre V12 to its aero was initially meant for racing dominance, rather than for sharing roads with Camrys and diesel utes.

Its roadworthiness doesn’t necessarily mean it’s spent much time hunting apexes on the blacktop though and this car is no different, having only travelled 1440km at the time it was photographed for the auction.

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Probably due to this (in part at least) comes its guiding range of USD$4,250,000 to $5,250,000 (which converts to between AUD$5,746,000 and $7,098,000) as estimated by RM Sotheby’s.

For that money you get about a tonne of German metal and carbon fibre, with a powerplant worth upwards of 450kW and 775Nm and a 6-speed sequential ‘box.

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The good news is you’ve got about four weeks to get that loan approved or sell the house/other cars/family to fund a purchase. Even then, bidders need to be pre-approved by RM Sotheby’s, and internet bidding is off the cards for this lot.

As one of only 20 examples with a roof, it’s a safe bet you won’t lose money on this investment… unless you want to enjoy driving it, that is.