The phrase "race car for the road" gets tossed around a lot, especially now, when every boutique supercar manufacturer has their own track-day special. There's few places outside the homologated Group B rally cars of the '80's that the phrase carries much meaning. That's where the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR sets itself apart.

A true homologation special, the CLK GTR was initially designed for the FIA GT Championship in 1997. FIA rules for the GT Championship required a limited run of 25 cars modified for street use to be produced in order for the race car to be eligible for the race series. And, race the GTR LM did, winning seventeen of its twenty-two races, all from pole position. On top of that already impressive statistic, the GTR race car held the fastest lap in 14 of its 22 races.

The CLK was dominant, and its reputation is bolstered or held back by one single image.

Arguably the most unique angle the CLK has ever been photographed from

A Massive "Flipping" Setback

The car in the photo above IS NOT a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. Rather it is a CLR, the successor to the GTR. The morning of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mark Webber climbed into the driver's seat of the CLS and set off on his practice laps. While cresting the hill on the straight just after turn nine at Le Mans, Webber's car simply decided it had had enough of its earthly shackles, and for a brief moment, gave Mr. Webber a view he had never seen at Le Mans.

The CLS was reported to have gone nearly 30 feet into the air. While the cause is up for debate, the leading theory was that air had gotten trapped under the front spoiler of the car, causing it to lift its nose, allowing ever more air under until, up it went. Of course, the most obvious reason for the mistake regarding the CLK's reputation is plain to see. Even in the 23-year-old photo, it is quite easy to mistake the CLK for the CLS, especially when looking at the front end. This misconception has, of course, given the CLK a reputation as a killer machine, in spite of the success it brought Mercedes at the race track.

via Top Gear

A Winning Tradition

It's impossible to discuss Mercedes' success in racing without bringing up their homologated machines. From the legendary Cosworth-engined 190e, to the CLK, Mercedes has built a winning tradition for itself. But how exactly did they make the CLK so fast? Turns out, a little trickery was necessary. Mercedes knew going into the 1997 GT Championship that they needed one nasty car to compete with Gordon Murray and his F1 GTR. So, they bought one, although, a clapped-out one from a previous season.

Mercedes, as the story goes, effectively reverse-engineered Murray's famous race car. Out went the F1's BMW V12 and in went Merc's. Bodywork was fitted to the now stripped-down F1 so that Mercedes could effectively test their car without having to actually develop a working prototype until much, much later. This no doubt gave them quite the edge, as now the team not only knew how their car would behave, they knew how Murray's would too. This said, Mercedes still had one large requirement to fulfill before going racing: homologation.

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Mercedes-AMG-CLK-GTR
via topgear

Just How Limited is Limited?

With only twenty-six cars built, six roadsters, and twenty coupes, the CLK GTR and its roadster variant are free from the woes of depreciation. Homologated street-cars often hold their value extremely well. Just look at the new GR Yaris. In twenty years, clean examples of that car will be trading hands for well over sticker. It's more than that in the case of the GTR. The last coupe example, pictured above, fetched a princely sum at Pebble Beach. Just how princely? 4.15 million.

Often, it's incredibly rare for these cars to even reach auction. At this level, the cars rarely even go to market. Here's how it works: A buyer approaches a broker who may or may not know a certain discerning party willing to part with their lovely Mercedes. Said broker taps said discerning party on the shoulder and whispers a number. The number is either good enough, or it's not. If it is, the car is sold with no one the wiser.

Without the body panels, the size of Mercedes' homologation special can be deceptive.

The Mercedes CLK GTR Is Of A Dying Breed

Is racing pedigree the only thing that makes the CLK GTR and its variants such monsters, or is there more to the formula? Evidently, a little bit of homologation goes a long way.  After all, the GTR is special. How many other stripped-out, sequential trannied, naturally aspirated race cars for the road are out there? Not many, as one could imagine. The CLK GTR came equipped with a naturally aspirated 6.9 liter V12 producing a hefty 600 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. Despite mufflers the size of its rear tires, the GTR has an exhaust note that is normally reserved for Le Mans cars and a volume that any straight-piped Ferrari would envy.

Perhaps it's the racing that pulls people towards the CLK, a glimpse of what was to come in the motorsport arena for Mercedes. After all, it's not long after the CLK GTR's last race that a young boy named Lewis started winning a few races for the brand. Maybe it's the looks with such strange proportions, the CLK can only be a product of its era. Or maybe still it's the driving experience, unlike nearly anything on the road. One thing is for sure that the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is an absolute beast.

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