1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK LM for sale

Overview of this 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK LM used for sale

In the late 1990s, the BPR Global GT Series was elevated to an FIA-sanctioned event known as the FIA GT Championship. This caught the attention of Mercedes, who tasked AMG with building a car that complied with the Group GT1 regulations. To expedite development, AMG acquired McLaren F1 GTR chassis #11R from French privateers Larbre Compétition. They then fitted it with AMG's bodywork and replaced the F1 GTR's engine with Mercedes' own, completing the CLK GTR just 128 days after starting the design work.

The CLK GTR made its debut at Mercedes' home track, the Hockenheimring, with Bernd Schneider qualifying on pole. Unfortunately, he retired due to brake issues, and the sister car finished 27th. Despite this setback, the CLK GTR excelled in the 1997 FIA GT Championship, winning six out of eleven races and securing both the constructor's and driver's championship by a significant margin.

After the success of the CLK GTR, Mercedes-Benz modified it to suit the long straights of the Circuit de la Sarthe by constructing a new chassis with revised bodywork. To ensure endurance, they replaced the V12 engine with a modified version of the 5.0L M119 V8 engine from the Sauber C9. The car's aerodynamics were also adjusted for high-speed demands at Le Mans.

Although both cars qualified on pole and third at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, issues with the power steering oil pump led to the retirement of both CLK LMs from the race. Mercedes continued to use CLK LMs for the rest of the 1998 FIA GT Championship, achieving success with six 1–2 finishes in every race.

The car underwent a major overhaul in April 2021, including the fitting of a new fuel tank and fuel pumps, refacing all four carbon discs, replacing the fire extinguisher system, and refreshing the suspension.