AN “exceptionally rare” 205mph supercar has hit an auction at F1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix with a £10 million price tag.
The stunning motor has just 105 miles on the clock and is in pristine condition as it goes up for sale.
SothebysThis ‘exceptionally rare’ Mercedes has hit auction with a £10 million price tag[/caption]
SothebysThe 205mph motor is one of just six ever made[/caption]
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster is one of just six ever made, with this example being the third to roll off production lines.
It is an open-topped version of the legendary racer that dominated the FIA GT Championship in the late 1990s.
Only one was initially produced, but the manufacturer found it “too enticing” to resist making the other five, according to the listing.
Finished in bright silver the low-sling sportster boasts a “powerful” V12 engine that puts out a top speed of 205mph.
Its luxurious black and grey interior is relatively minimalist in design, allowing drivers to focus on the raw power beneath.
A large black spoiler gives it the extra downforce it needs to handle exceptionally while also adding some flair.
It even comes with its own set of AMG-brand luggage, including a travel bag, briefcase and washbag.
The gorgeous supercar was imported to the US and sold to a collector in Wisconsin in 2011, before passing on to a dealership in Arkansas.
After that, it was sent over to North Carolina before being sold again to another collector in the UK.
This evening, it will go before bidders in Las Vegas ahead of F1’s debut race in the city on Sunday.
A spokesperson for RM Sotheby’s, who are handling the auction, said: “As extremely rare open versions of the marque’s FIA GT Championship-winning late 1990s supercar, the CLK GTR Roadster may be regarded as the pinnacle of the model’s production, cementing the car’s status as the apogee of twentieth-century sports car design.
“This beautifully maintained CLK GTR Roadster benefits from a life of very minimal driving use and maintenance by certified marque technicians.
“For supercar completists, marque connoisseurs, or racecar aficionados seeking a singular automotive representing the reaffirmation of Mercedes-Benz’s sportscar racing mastery nearly 100 years after its first successes, there is no better roadgoing model than the CLK GTR Roadster.”
It comes after a classic Ferrari known as the “holy grail” of car collections fetched a record fee at auction this week.
Meanwhile, Bradley Walsh used his surprising past job to design a James Bond-inspired supercar which is now up for grabs.
SothebysThe auction is taking place in Las Vegas ahead of the first-ever F1 race in the city[/caption]
SothebysThe auctioneers described the car as the “pinnacle” of motoring[/caption]