Issue Thirty Seven
In This Issue
Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG – The DTM is totally unique, different to any other AMG car before or after.
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II – A homologation special that looks like the equivalent DTM racer.
Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG – Formula One safety car and styling provide motorsport link that appeals to car collectors.
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R – Never before has Mercedes-AMG packed so much motorsport technology into a production vehicle than into the new AMG GT R.
Market Update – Mercedes-Benz special featuring the best from the brand.
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The digital version of the magazine is available here
Note from the Editor
Welcome to our first Mercedes-Benz special, in this issue we focus on a few of the great cars that wear a three pointed star on the bonnet. This is only a small selection of cars we are watching continuously. In our end of 2016 report we have also identified all AMG badged cars as increasing in value and status over the next few years.
The first Mercedes-Benz we feature in this issue is the upcoming AMG GT R, which has been developed on the Nürburgring and represents a return into the supercar sector for the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands. The car is largely sold out worldwide, which shows there is an appetite for well built, luxury supercars. The next addition to the stable will be a hybrid hypercar.
The CLK DTM AMG is an incredibly rare car, one of the rarest of all time from the brand. It was a car that top management didn’t want to build, their attention was on the Mercedes McLaren SLR. Fortunately the AMG engineers persuaded them it was a viable project. There were just 100 examples produced, all snapped up by collectors before production started. With the extreme, DTM race car inspired bodywork and interior, they certainly look special. Under the bonnet are a few secrets, which are all explained by our anonymous owner in his story.
The next car is also a DTM related masterpiece, the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. This time it was a necessary build, to enable Mercedes-Benz to improve their race car and ultimately win the DTM championship in 1992. Production class racing was incredibly close run in the 80’s and 90’s, manufacturers had to make an initial batch of 5,000 cars to be eligible to enter and a subsequent 500 cars with any improvements in aerodynamics, suspension and base engine. This period brought about some of the closest racers for the road in history, from Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as well as many others if you include WRC too. The Evolution II may not be the fastest or lightest, but it makes up for this with how well it represents the golden age of motorsport homologation.
Raj Hunjan