Mercedes-Benz commissioned the HWA AG team to build a road car that offered customers an intoxicating driving experience comparable to that of the bona fide CLK DTM racer that, in 2003, guided Bernd Schneider to the fourth of his record-breaking five German touring car titles. At the core lay a 5.4-litre supercharged V-8 engine mated to a Speedshift 5G-Tronic automatic transmission that was operated with paddle shifters mounted behind the race car-inspired steering wheel. Capable of 582 horsepower, the car could launch to 60 mph in just under four seconds while its top speed was rated at 199 mph.

The CLK DTM AMG’s styling further nods to its racing inspiration. For the exterior, the car wore a split rear diffuser, prominent carbon-fibre wing, and flared wheel arches to accommodate the 17-inch AMG lightweight alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the interior was finished with more exposed carbon-fibre trim, bucket seats to hold the driver in place, and a squared-off steering wheel inspired by Schneider’s championship winner.

Incredibly desirable from the get-go, the car was a hit with famous racing drivers of the era. Formula 1 aces Juan Pablo Montoya, Mika Häkkinen, Kimi Räikkönen, and Jenson Button all came to count themselves as owners. Only 100 CLK DTM AMGs were produced in coupé form. Rarer still were the cabriolets, of which a mere 80 were built.

The drop-top example offered here was delivered in August 2006 to Abu Dhabi. The car was finished by the factory in Bright Silver Metallic over Black and Anthracite Avantgarde fabric, with a black fabric soft-top. Now offered with just 3,961 kilometres showing on the odometer, here is one of the most sought-after modern Mercedes-Benz models produced.