One of six RHD Mercedes CLK DTM Cabriolet for sale

AMG might want you to believe that it’s as much a technology company as an engine manufacturer these days, but it’s still a master builder of barmy ‘bahnstormers’. Just a few years ago the company drastically changed 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 has built a hypercar around the GT Black Series. 1.6-litre F1 engine that dominated the early years of the sport’s hybrid era.

Even after delving into electric vehicle tuning and experimenting with some very impressive (if not very attractive) hybrid technology for the four-cylinder C63, AMG hasn’t lost its ability to put something crazy together. However, it’s been a while since something as overt as the CLK DTM has been conceived: partly because the days of silhouette prototypes in the DTM are long gone, with the range now using GT3 machines to keep costs in check, and there there’s no sign of AMG ditching its GT racer for something based on the CLE (the distant successor to the CLK) anytime soon, for obvious reasons.

Sure, the aforementioned GT Black got the racer-for-the-road stuff covered, but the CLK DTM was different: a true Skunkworks project that served, in a way, as a proof of concept for the now legendary Black Series cars. Although nominally linked to the racer, the limited-production road car had little in common with the DTM machine. The 5.4-liter V8 was carried over from the CLK 55 road car, only with a supercharger attached for a whopping 582 horsepower. Not only was it 200 hp more than the 55, it was also a lot more powerful than the 4.0-liter, race-developed V8 used by the DTM racer. For a more modern reference point, the all-new AMG GT 63 produces just 3 hp more – 20 years after the DTM.

Meanwhile, the bodywork was made from carbon fiber and shaped to resemble the DTM machines. While the large air vents integrated into the massive wheel arches were fake, a huge amount of work went into bringing the chassis up to spec with bigger brakes and a mechanical limited-slip differential. AMG ripped out most of the interior, replaced much of the upholstery with carbon fiber and installed a set of part leather, part Alcantara bucket seats – which had never been done before. The company would refine the formula, lower the price and increase production numbers with subsequent Black Series models, but few have matched the sheer excess and madness of the DTM.

There are also no BS cars offered with a removable roof. After producing 100 DTM coupes, AMG developed a convertible version with the same over-the-top looks and power as the hardtop car. The only significant difference (apart from the lack of a roof) was the retention of the rear seat, albeit with a slight twist. The seats were essentially molded into the custom carbon fiber rear seat, with bits of Alcantara-covered padding glued to them. Comfortable? Probably not, but who cares if they’re riding in the back of Merc’s craziest drop-tops of all time?

Some argue that Convertibles aren’t ‘real’ DTMs, but if it’s good enough for Mika Hakinen and Juan Pablo Montoya, who are we to judge? Moreover, they are even rarer than the coupes: only 80 were produced in total and only six with the steering wheel on the right – of which this car is one of them. It won’t be a huge surprise that you’ll need to contact the dealer to find out the price, but this white example in Germany costs €580,000 (or £488,000) and should give you an idea of ​​how much you’ll need to put aside. Alternatively, you can buy this very rare CLK 63 Cabriolet for a lot less.