--- title: "Buy This One-of-Eight Mercedes CLK DTM Race Car, Please" description: "One of the eight Mercedes CLK DTM race cars made for the 2000 season is headed to auction in February 2023." date: "2022-12-25" modified: "2022-12-25" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/you-can-bid-on-a-one-of-eight-mercedes-clk-dtm-race-car" categories: - "Mercedes-Benz News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Racing" --- # Buy This One-of-Eight Mercedes CLK DTM Race Car, Please ![]() If your heart is willing and your pockets are deep, now's your chance to buy a genuine DTM (German Touring Car racing) race car—and a great looking one at that. This[ Mercedes CLK ]()DTM car, built for the 2000 DTM season, is headed to the [RM Sotheby's]() auction in Paris on Feb. 1, 2023. Only eight of these [Mercedes ]()CLK DTM cars were ever made, split between three different teams. Four of them went to the Works HWA team, two cars went to the semi-Works Persson team and another two went to the Rosberg team. The car in question—RS00-05—was one of the HWA team cars, driven by Swiss driver Marcel Fässler, while wearing its Warsteiner livery. ![]() ![]() ![]() This Mercedes CLK DTM never won a DTM race but it did snag six podium finishes, and a few second-place and third-place finishes. It used a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8, making a regulations-limited 500 horsepower and was paired with a six-speed Xtrac sequential manual transmission. The engine made a buzzy, frenetic noise not typically associated with Mercedes V8s but it's the sort of raw, motorsport noise that can make the hair on your arms stand on end. Mercedes ended up keeping the Warsteiner CLK DTM car after the 2000 season and used it to promote the brand. But then Czech collector and motorsport enthusiast Antonín Charouz bought it from Mercedes, who eventually sold it in 2013. Since then, it's had its entire gearbox, clutch, and water pump replaced and it only has around 3,500 km (2,174 miles) on the odometer. ![]() ![]() ![]() Obviously, being a race car, you can't register and drive this on the road. However, for a rich enthusiast that wants a genuine race car to use on track, this might be a very attractive buy. It's a gorgeous racer with a kick-ass German beer livery and a free-breathing Mercedes V8. To whoever can afford it, why wouldn't you want to buy it? *Got tips? Send 'em over to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()