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Photo of a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR

Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR

Built for GT1 in 128 days. Given license plates by a 25-car rule.12

Researched October 30, 2026 from 30 sources

Also called

  • UnicornUsed for the roadgoing car created to homologate Mercedes-AMG's 1997 FIA GT1 racer.3

At a glance

0400800
604–720 hpPower
0510
3.5–3.8 s0–100 km/h
0175350
320–322 km/hTop speed
0400800
731–786 N·mTorque
07501,500
1,410–1,440 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.1491112

Engine
6.9 L naturally aspirated V12; 7.3 L SuperSport (655–720 hp claims)1411
Layout
Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive1
Gearbox
6-speed sequential manual; shift paddles require the clutch pedal112
Built at
AMG/HWA works, Affalterbach, Germany1
Units built
28 incl. 2 prototypes; 20 coupes, 6 Roadsters; 25/26 also claimed21314

The story

Built for FIA GT after DTM/ITC collapsed, the CLK GTR spawned road cars to satisfy a 25-car rule. They kept the racer's carbon-fiber monocoque, suspension and sequential gearbox.124

1996: DTM/ITC collapse redirects Mercedes19961997: 128 days, with McLaren chassis 11R · April 1 homologation, Frankfurt debut · Nürburgring breakthrough, six wins19971998: Two wins before the CLK LM · $1.547 million for a customer coupe19981999: Coupe production ends at 2019992002: Roadster deliveries begin20022006: Five more Roadsters complete the six2006 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR: 1955 racing seasonMercedes-Benz C111 (original prototype) (C111): 1969Mercedes-Benz C112 (C112): 1991Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (W297): 1997–2006W297Mercedes-Benz CLK LM (racing successor): 1998 1960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1241016181920
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1955 racing seasonMercedes-Benz 300 SLR
1969Mercedes-Benz C111 (original prototype) (C111)
1991Mercedes-Benz C112 (C112)
1997–2006Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (W297)
1998Mercedes-Benz CLK LM (racing successor)
1996DTM/ITC collapse redirects Mercedes
1997128 days, with McLaren chassis 11R
1997April 1 homologation, Frankfurt debut
1997Nürburgring breakthrough, six wins
1998Two wins before the CLK LM
1998$1.547 million for a customer coupe
1999Coupe production ends at 20
2002Roadster deliveries begin
2006Five more Roadsters complete the six
  1. 1996

    DTM/ITC collapse redirects Mercedes

    Opel and Alfa Romeo withdraw over rising costs. With the 1997 DTM/ITC canceled, Mercedes turns to the inaugural FIA GT Championship.4

  2. 1997

    128 days, with McLaren chassis 11R

    AMG develops the CLK GTR in 128 days, testing its V12 and bodywork on a purchased McLaren F1 GTR, chassis 11R.15

  3. 1997

    April 1 homologation, Frankfurt debut

    A prototype is homologated on April 1; the roadgoing Straßenversion is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.46

  4. 1997

    Nürburgring breakthrough, six wins

    Schneider and Klaus Ludwig head a Nürburgring 1–2. Six wins in 11 races deliver both titles for Mercedes, with Schneider the drivers' champion.16

  5. 1998

    Two wins before the CLK LM

    After winning the first two rounds of 1998, the factory CLK GTR gives way to the CLK LM, developed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.167

  6. 1998

    $1.547 million for a customer coupe

    The 20 customer coupes enter production with a $1.547 million price, making them the most expensive new cars available.48

  7. 1999

    Coupe production ends at 20

    AMG and HWA end the 20-car coupe run in mid-1999 at Affalterbach.1

  8. 2002

    Roadster deliveries begin

    The six-car open-top series starts reaching customers, with side engine intakes and roll hoops behind the seats.69

  9. 2006

    Five more Roadsters complete the six

    Five additional Roadsters are produced on spare CLK GTR chassis, completing the six-car open-top series.610

Every generation

  • Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
    Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR1955 racing season
  • Mercedes-Benz C111 (original prototype)
    C1111969
  • Mercedes-Benz C112
    C1121991
  • Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
    W2971997–2006
  • Mercedes-Benz CLK LM (racing successor)
    Mercedes-Benz CLK LM (racing successor)1998

Power over the years

From 622 hp to 720 hp in 0 years.

0200400600800 1998 hp 1998 · 622 hp · Customer coupe1998 · 655 hp · 7.3 L SuperSport1998 · 720 hp · SuperSport (auction claim) 720 hp SuperSport (auction claim) 622 hp Customer coupe
1311
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1998622Customer coupe
19986557.3 L SuperSport
1998720SuperSport (auction claim)

Versions

5 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    CLK GTR Straßenversion Coupe

    1998–1999

    622 hp

    20 built

  • CLK GTR Roadster

    Limited

    CLK GTR Roadster

    604 hp

    6 built

  • Performance

    CLK GTR SuperSport

  • Special

    CLK GTR road prototypes

    2 built

  • Limited

    CLK GTR right-hand-drive pair

    2 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Four round headlights, grille and taillights come from the regular CLK.115
  • A large roof scoop crowns the coupe.4
  • Butterfly doors swing upward.415
  • NACA air ducts sit in the sills below the doors.1
  • Road versions have more ground clearance than the racers.3

Year by year

  1. 1997 to 1998–1999

    Road prototypes lack number plaques; customer cars carry serial numbers on the dash, center console and door sills.4

  2. 1999–2006 (Roadster)

    Roadsters move the roof intake to the sides and the mirrors from the fenders to the doors, adding a race-style rear wing.14

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
    CLK GTR
    Photo of a Mercedes-Benz CLK
    Mercedes-Benz CLK

    Mercedes-Benz CLK

    The lamps and grille are shared; the GTR coupe adds a roof scoop, sill ducts and butterfly doors.1415

  • Mercedes-Benz CLK LM

    Look for the LM's lower roofline and nose and its reshaped air intakes.115

  • Photo of a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
    CLK GTR
    Photo of a Mercedes-Benz CLR
    Mercedes-Benz CLR

    Mercedes-Benz CLR

    The CLR has a slimmer, lower prototype body than the CLK GTR.11617

Prices

Value today $7.5M–$14.0M2728

Auction saleValue today
$0$5M$10M$15M 201520202025 Value today: $7,500,000–$14,000,000 2012 · $1,100,000 · 1998 SuperSport, 1,335 miles, Monterey auction2015 · $2,300,000 · 1998 Roadster, Bonhams Goodwood2018 · $4,515,000 · Coupe, under 1,500 km, RM Sotheby's Monterey2023 · $10,235,000 · 2002 Roadster, 170 km, Las Vegas auction $10.2M Las Vegas auction, 2023
61011272830
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2012Auction sale$1,100,0001998 SuperSport, 1,335 miles, Monterey auction
2015Auction sale$2,300,0001998 Roadster, Bonhams Goodwood
2018Auction sale$4,515,000Coupe, under 1,500 km, RM Sotheby's Monterey
2023Auction sale$10,235,0002002 Roadster, 170 km, Las Vegas auction
2026Value today$7,500,000–$14,000,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 5 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “$1,547,620 bought the production-car price record”
    • “Nürburgring 1–2, then both 1997 titles”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 30 sources
  1. Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster – Petersen Automotive Museum petersen.org
  3. CLK GTR | RT Classics renntechclassics.com
  4. Mercedes-Benz W297 CLK GTR Strassenversion Guide — Supercar Nostalgia supercarnostalgia.com
  5. Mercedes Developed Its Championship-Winning CLK GTR in 128 Days roadandtrack.com
  6. 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster | Las Vegas | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  7. Mercedes Benz CLK GTR for sale - Vehicle Sales - DK Engineering dkeng.co.uk
  8. 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe | Las Vegas | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  9. Mercedes CLK GTR Straßenversion Faszination - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  10. The Road to the Rare Mercedes-Benz CLK GTRs | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  11. 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR | Monterey 2012 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  12. Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR: A Race Car You Can Drive on the Street roadandtrack.com
  13. CLK GTR | Mechatronik - Qualität, Perfektion und Leidenschaft mechatronik.de
  14. He probado el Mercedes CLK GTR Strassenversion: "Un coche valorado en 8 millones de euros que nació en el mejor momento de la marca" autobild.es
  15. 1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR | Monterey 2018 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  16. Why you’re wrong about the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR | GRR goodwood.com
  17. Rückkehr auf die Rundstrecke inklusive DTM | Mercedes-Benz Media media.mercedes-benz.com
  18. Driving the Championship Winning Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR roadandtrack.com
  19. Mercedes-Benz C111 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Mercedes-Benz C112 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR: de la succes la extravaganță - Autocritica autocritica.ro
  22. Long Live the King: The Car That Killed the McLaren F1 GTR | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  23. Experience Car Rivalries in the Nemesis Tour forza.net
  24. Need for Speed No Limits – Viper’s Nest ea.com
  25. The Mystique Behind The Mercedes CLK GTR | CarThrottle carthrottle.com
  26. Dealer Sues Benz Over $1.7-Million Lemon | WardsAuto wardsauto.com
  27. Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Straßenversion Price & Market Value · HICONIUM hiconium.com
  28. International Narco Drama and Supercar Royalty: Valuing the FBI-Seized Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster - motorcopia.com
  29. Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster Values: $10,235,000 by Year | DriveIndex driveindex.com
  30. Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster For Sale & Price Guide | TCV theclassicvaluer.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • petersen.org
  • renntechclassics.com
  • supercarnostalgia.com
  • roadandtrack.com
  • rmsothebys.com
  • dkeng.co.uk
  • autobild.de
  • mechatronik.de
  • autobild.es
  • goodwood.com
  • media.mercedes-benz.com
  • autocritica.ro
  • forza.net

Photo credits

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