When it comes to supercars, exclusivity is currency, and you’re looking at one of the rarest treasures Mercedes-Benz has ever unleashed upon an unsuspecting public. Enter the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Coupé—a car so rare, so comically overpowered, and so dripping with racing pedigree that even a Formula 1 driver couldn’t resist its allure. In fact, some of them didn’t. Jenson Button, Kimi Räikkönen, and Takuma Sato all got their hands on one, making this machine a kind of VIP pass to an automotive club your Toyota Camry will never be invited to.
But why should you care, and more importantly, why is this particular vehicle now expected to fetch up to $700,000 at Webb’s prestigious auction in New Zealand? Well, because this story has it all: speed, engineering insanity, absurd rarity, and a dash of internet billionaire flair.
The Car That Beat Its Own Race Version
You read that right. AMG, Mercedes-Benz’s performance mad-scientists, took one look at the championship-winning DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) cars of 2003 and thought, “What if we made it EVEN crazier—but street legal?” Thus, the CLK DTM AMG Coupé was born, using all the engineering wizardry of HWA AG, Mercedes’ elite racing division.
Under its bonnet, this monster swaps the race car’s 4.0-liter V8 for a fire-breathing, supercharged 5.4-litre V8 producing a staggering 582 horsepower. That’s right—the road version packs more punch than the very race cars it celebrated. It’s like giving Usain Bolt a head start in a sprint and then making everyone else run in flip-flops. The CLK rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in a ridiculous 3.9 seconds, topping out at 322 km/h. All of this is channeled through a 5-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission and shrouded in a body that looks like it escaped from a racetrack, complete with deep front aprons, flared wheel arches, and a show-stopping rear wing.
Even with all this race-inspired madness, the interior strikes an elegant balance of performance and comfort. Sure, there’s carbon fiber and aluminum everywhere, but it’s not so stripped-down that you feel like you’re driving a spaceship in a fire suit. No, the CLK DTM AMG is that perfect blend of insanity and daily driveability.
Rarity Flex: Why Only 100 Exist (and Why You’ll Never See One in Traffic)
Mercedes kept production of this car limited to just 100 coupés worldwide, with 40 of them configured in right-hand drive (because apparently, rarity is the ultimate flex). Think about that: if each of the Formula 1 drivers who have owned this car invited their friends over, there might not be enough DTM AMGs to go around the dinner table. This exclusivity, combined with its jaw-dropping performance and design, makes it one of Mercedes’ most coveted models. Owning one puts you in a club so exclusive that even the word “exclusive” feels inadequate.
Kim Dotcom’s Seal of Approval: The Billionaire Touch
The CLK DTM AMG’s elite status is only amplified by its history—it was once owned by Kim Dotcom, a man whose name itself is synonymous with internet infamy and absurd opulence. Dotcom’s extensive collection has included some of the most extravagant vehicles ever made, and his eye for performance and engineering makes this car a highlight even among his fleet. It’s like the CLK DTM AMG is saying, “I’m not just rare; I’m certified rare.”
But this isn’t just a dusty trophy in Dotcom’s high-speed museum. Despite its limited 21,000 kilometers on the odometer, the car has been meticulously maintained in a temperature-controlled environment, serviced annually by specialists, and ready to hit the track—or at the very least, remind people why they’re stuck behind you in traffic.
A Price Tag Worth Every Penny?
With an estimated bidding range of $550,000 to $700,000, is this car worth it? The answer is a resounding yes—if you’re the kind of person who prefers your car to come with a side of bragging rights. Remember, this isn’t just a fast car. It’s an artifact of automotive perfection; a car that’s celebrated by racing enthusiasts and represents the pinnacle of AMG’s track-to-road engineering philosophy .
But more importantly, it’s a story rolled into a car. Every piece of this vehicle—the supercharged engine, the aggressive design, the Formula 1 alumni connections—tells a tale of dominance and exclusivity. And with just 100 ever made, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own some of that magic.
Will You Be the One?
If you’re planning to bid on this car, you’re not just buying machinery; you’re buying into a fantasy of unbridled speed, unparalleled rarity, and racing pedigree. And if you win? Don’t forget to casually drop into conversation that your car is not only worth more than most houses but was also once parked in Kim Dotcom’s garage. Because honestly, that kind of flex is priceless.
So, is this the rarest Mercedes-Benz of the modern era? Quite possibly. Is it completely, gloriously over-the-top? Absolutely. And if you’ve got half a million dollars lying around, there’s no better way to feel like a racing legend—even if you never take it out of the garage. Happy bidding.
