Mercedes-Benz history · 1997–1999
Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR: history of the 25-car homologation special
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR was AMG's FIA GT1 race car of 1997, and FIA GT rules required 25 road-going versions. AMG designed and built the first race cars in about four months; Bernd Schneider won the 1997 drivers' championship. The road cars use a mid-mounted 6.9-liter V12, and one sold for $4,515,000 in 2018.
CLK GTR history
In the mid-1990s Mercedes-Benz wanted to return to top-level GT racing. To compete in FIA GT, each manufacturer had to produce 25 homologated road cars. AMG had roughly four months to design, build and test the race car and its road-going counterpart: 128 days after the first sketches, the first CLK GTR took to the track in Spain.
The first road version was presented to the FIA on 1 April 1997, days before the race car's debut at Hockenheim, where Bernd Schneider took pole position and fastest lap. The team won the 1997 championship and Schneider the drivers' title; for 1998 the car was phased out in favor of the V8-powered CLK LM.
The road cars keep the race car's layout, with the mid-mounted 6.9-liter V12 behind the occupants.[1]
Years and production numbers
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Road cars required by FIA GT | 25 | RM Sotheby's catalog |
| Development to first track test | 128 days | RM Sotheby's catalog |
| Engine (road car) | 6.9-liter V12, mid-mounted | RM Sotheby's catalog |
| 1997 season | Team and drivers' championships (Bernd Schneider) | RM Sotheby's catalog |
| Monterey 2012 sale (RM Sotheby's) | $1,100,000 | RM Sotheby's result |
| Monterey 2018 sale, car no. 9 of 25 (RM Sotheby's) | $4,515,000 | RM Sotheby's result |
Engine and drivetrain facts
- The race car's M120-based V12 made about 630 hp; for 1998 its successor, the CLK LM, switched to a naturally aspirated V8 of similar output.
- The CLK GTR's lineage continued in 1998 when AMG's cars scored six 1-2 finishes and the team championship.
Sources:[1]
What changed, year by year
- 1997Race debut at Hockenheim; championship season; first road car shown to the FIA.
- 1998CLK LM replaces the GTR in racing; road-car production continues.
Sources:[1]
What to check before you buy one
- Provenance is everything: chassis number, build number (1 to 25) and ownership chain.
- Check originality of body, engine and drivetrain — auction houses highlight it because replacements are common on race-derived cars.
- Confirm road-registration and import status for your country; some cars have been federalized for the US.
CLK GTR prices and values today
Only public sale results give a reliable value: RM Sotheby's sold a CLK GTR for $1,100,000 at Monterey in 2012 and car number 9 of 25, with under 1,500 km, for $4,515,000 at Monterey in 2018.[1],[2]
How to verify the factory options of any CLK GTR
Each road car was individually specified. A factory build record by VIN helps tie a car's documentation to its chassis.
The road cars carry 17-character VINs, but with only 25 built, detailed build data may not exist for every VIN.[3]
CLK GTR data card by VIN
CarWhere decodes the Mercedes-Benz data card — the factory option codes, paint and upholstery a specific car was built with — from licensed VIN-level build data, when it exists for that VIN.
Free availability check first · $9.99 one-time only if detailed build data exists for the VIN · no subscription
Frequently asked questions
How many Mercedes CLK GTR were made?
FIA GT rules required 25 homologated road cars, and RM Sotheby's describes the 2018 auction car as number 9 of only 25 examples built.
What engine does the CLK GTR have?
A mid-mounted 6.9-liter V12, per RM Sotheby's catalog.
How much is a CLK GTR worth?
RM Sotheby's sold one for $4,515,000 at Monterey in 2018; another sold for $1,100,000 there in 2012.
Did the CLK GTR win races?
Yes. In 1997 the CLK GTR won the FIA GT team championship and Bernd Schneider won the drivers' title.
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Sources
Production figures and dates come from Mercedes-Benz Group, Mercedes-Benz Classic and Mercedes-Benz USA material wherever available; auction figures are public results from the auction house. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.
- 1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR — Monterey 2018, lot 241 — RM Sotheby's
- 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR — Monterey 2012 — RM Sotheby's
- 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by Mercedes-Benz Group AG or Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, AMG and the model names are trademarks of their owner.