One-of-six RHD Mercedes CLK DTM Cabriolet for sale

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

Even after dipping its toes into tuning EVs and experimenting with highly impressive (if not all that appealing) hybrid tech for the four-cylinder C63, AMG hasn’t lost its ability to put together something mad. However, it’s been a while since it’s concocted something as openly bonkers as the CLK DTM: partly because the days of silhouette prototypes in the DTM are long gone, with the series now using GT3 machines to keep a lid on costs, and there’s no sign of AMG chopping in its GT racer for something based on the CLE (the CLK’s distant successor) any time soon for obvious reasons.

Sure, the aforementioned GT Black has got the racer-for-the-road thing covered off, but the CLK DTM was different: a proper skunkworks project that, in a way, served as a proof of concept for the now fabled Black Series cars. Although linked to the racer in name, the limited-run road car had little in common with the DTM machine. The 5.4-litre V8 was carried over from the CLK 55 road car, only with supercharger strapped to it for a colossal 582hp. Not only was that 200hp more than the 55, it was a good deal punchier than the 4.0-litre, race-developed V8 employed by the DTM racer. For a more contemporary reference point, the all-new AMG GT 63 only produces just 3hp more – 20 years on from the DTM. 

Meanwhile, the bodywork was made from carbon fibre and shaped to resemble the DTM machines. The large ‘vents’ integrated into the hugely blistered wheel arches were fake, admittedly, but a huge amount of work went into bringing the chassis up to spec with bigger brakes and a mechanical limited-slip differential. AMG ripped most of the interior out, replacing much of the trim with carbon fibre and installing a set of part leather, part Alcantara bucket seats – which it had never really been done before. The company would refine the formula, lower the price point and up the production count with the subsequent Black Series models, but few have matched the sheer excess and lunacy of the DTM.

Nor have any of the BS cars been offered with a removable roof. After producing 100 DTM coupes, AMG went on to develop a Cabriolet version with the same over-the-top looks and power as the hard-top car. The only key difference (aside from the lack of a roof) was the retention of the rear seats, albeit with a slight twist. The seats were essentially moulded into the bespoke carbon fibre rear bench, with bits of Alcantara-covered padding stuck to it. Comfortable? Probably not, but who’s going to care when they’re riding in the back of Merc’s maddest drop-tops of all time?

Some argue that Cabrios aren’t ‘true’ DTMs, but if it’s good enough for Mika Hakinen and Juan Pablo Montoya, who are we to judge? Besides, they’re even rarer than the coupes, with only 80 produced in total and just six with the steering wheel on the right-hand side – with this car being one of them. It’ll come as no great surprise that you’ll need to get in touch with the dealer to find out the price, but this white example in Germany is going for €580,000 (or £488,0000) should give you an idea of how much to set aside. Alternatively, you could nab this very rare CLK 63 Cabriolet for a lot, lot less.