The CLK DTM AMG Coupe is among the most coveted models Mercedes-Benz’s elite AMG division has ever created. Unveiled in 2004, just 100 were produced to celebrate the German automaker’s victory in the 2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) Championship.

HWA AG, the firm responsible for the racecar that AMG works driver Berd Schneider took to victory in 2003, built the limited run of roadgoing coupes under AMG’s supervision. Following in the footsteps of the heralded CLK GTR from the late-Nineties and with DTM racing pedigree unmistakably evident inside and out, these super coupes are highly prized for their rarity and superlative engineering—so much so that racing greats Jenson Button, Kimi Räikkönen, and Takuma Sato reportedly were among the lucky few who managed to acquire one before they quickly sold out. The overwhelming success of the CLK DTM AMG Coupe led to the subsequent launch of a cabriolet version, of which only 80 were produced. Only a handful of the coupes are believed to have made it into the United States.

Formidable though the championship-winning competition CLK DTM was, the roadgoing CLK DTM AMG exceeded its performance in some ways. Whereas the DTM track cars were limited by racing regulations to a normally aspirated 4.0-liter V-8 engine producing less than 500 horsepower, AMG equipped the roadgoing version with a far more powerful supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 pumping out 582 horsepower, making it by far the most powerful model in the type-C209 CLK range. It could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 198.8 mph—truly stunning performance. Renowned for its brutal power delivery, a surfeit of torque could smoke the rear tires under hard acceleration well into third gear.

Only the top supercars of the day could keep pace, but few if any could match its blend of luxury, comfort, and usability—appealing attributes that have defined AMG models since inception. The specially tuned SpeedShift 5G-Tronic automatic transmission could fire off quick shifts using paddles behind the steering wheel and recede into the background for smooth, seamless operation in daily driving. The interior was a lesson in minimalist luxury. Rear seats were jettisoned to save weight and the plush front seats replaced with lightweight carbon-fiber racing buckets featuring multi-point harnesses and trimmed in contrast-stitched leather with grippy Alcantara inserts. Streamlined door panels made of exquisitely crafted carbon fiber shaved more weight, while a slightly squared steering wheel in Alcantara and simple toggle switches in the center console for traction-control and transmission settings imbued a distinct sense of purpose to the sumptuous cabin.

The chassis was significantly upgraded relative to the standard CLK, with stiffened springs and height-adjustable shock absorbers, along with a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, new hub carriers, driveshafts, and metal joints in place of the standard rubber bushings. Large brake discs front and rear and a beefier limited-slip differential worked in conjunction with recalibrated traction- and stability-control systems to tame the prodigious power on tap. Looking to the exterior, a deep front apron, large air ducts, prominently flared wheel arches, and a large rear wing were all made of carbon fiber and modelled after those of the competition car.

Offered here is a stellar example of this most remarkable and coveted of CLK coupes. It is finished as it left the factory in Brilliant Silver and was delivered new to its first owner in the Middle East. Having benefitted from single private ownership for several decades, the coupe is said to have been mostly on static display previously, accounting for its exceptionally well-preserved condition and extremely low mileage. With only 270 kilometers (~168 miles) showing on the odometer at cataloguing time, it is possibly the lowest mileage CLK DTM AMG Coupe and undoubtedly among the very best in the world. None were made available in North America at launch, and few have reportedly been imported since. Crucially, this car has already been put through the arduous, costly, and time-consuming federalization process, saving its future owner untold effort and expense.

Though fully capable of the utmost performance, the CLK AMG DTM nevertheless came equipped from the factory with desirable creature comforts expected of a Mercedes-Benz, including air conditioning, GPS navigation, bi-xenon headlights, keyless entry, and an anti-theft alarm and immobilizer.

Built like no other CLK and exceedingly rare, this single-owner, low-mileage example is among the best ever to come to market. AMG models of this era are rising in popularity, finally gaining well-deserved recognition for the exquisite and historically important machines that they are, offering an experience as close as one can get to a championship-winning DTM racecar, but with the benefit of being certified for road use.