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Fancy owning what is likely to be one of the fastest road-legal cars in New Zealand?
On April 6, Webb’s auction house in Auckland is set to auction a rare Mercedes-Benz previously owned by German-Kiwi internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom.
The supercharged 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG coupé has an estimated sale price of $550,000-$700,000.
Webb’s says it was produced in limited numbers as only 100 coupés were built and, of those, only 40 were in right-hand drive.
“This car is the closest most people will ever get to driving in the famous Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (racing series) without needing a helmet and indeed this experience in many ways surpasses that rush.
“Anyone who succeeds at auction for this vehicle would join an incredibly exclusive club of owners that include Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Takuma Sato.
“It offers an exhilarating driving experience, blending raw power with race-inspired dynamics.”
Designed and built by the elite racing department HWA AG to commemorate Mercedes-Benz’s win at the 2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) racing series, the CLK DTM was the pinnacle of AMG’s track-focused line-up.
This road-going coupé is even more powerful than the race version it commemorates, Webb’s says.
“While the DTM race cars were limited to a normally-aspirated four-litre V8 engine producing less than 500bhp, AMG’s road-going version came with a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 unit pumping out some 582bhp.
“The supercharged engine responsible for these figures was paired with a five-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission, capable of a top speed of 322km/h.
“Weighing 1,742kg, the CLK DTM AMG goes from 0-100km/h in a mind-blowing 3.9 seconds.
“The vehicle’s design is just as impressive as its performance.
“Its deep front apron, large air intake ducts, prominently flared wheel arches, boot-mounted rear wing, and large-diameter alloy wheels are all elements developed from the DTM cars.
“Its interior carries that race-track pedigree with an abundance of carbon fibre and aluminium accents.”
Despite these performance-oriented elements, the CLK DTM AMG maintains a degree of comfort and practicality that make it a pleasure to drive, Webb’s says.
Presented in exceptional condition, this is a rare opportunity to acquire one of AMG’s most exclusive and exhilarating creations, with a unique ownership history to match.
“This car formed part of New Zealand-based internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom’s collection.
“He’s put together some of the most coveted high-performance vehicles in the world, reflecting his love for speed and engineering excellence.
“Dotcom’s penchant for rare and exotic automobiles has seen him amass a fleet that includes everything from supercars to custom-built machines.”
The vehicle will be sold unregistered and without current warrant of fitness.
