These two extreme Mercedes-Benz CLKs are up for auction

Happy days – auction season is basically upon us, so prepare yourselves for a veritable onslaught of tremendous old cars with fascinating histories you can’t afford and in any case will probably never see in real life. Cars like these two AMG Mercs, which will be auctioned at Silverstone on May 19^th.

The newer of the two is a CLK 63 Black Series, a car we (and just about everyone else) were especially fond of when it was launched in 2007. ‘Black Series’ is AMG-speak for “really quite extreme” – in period it competed with the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3. The dearly-missed 6.2-litre N/A V8 gave 507bhp, more extreme aero, brakes and suspension were fitted, and to save weight the rear-seats were stripped away and much carbon fibre added. 0-62mph happened in 4.3 seconds, and the top speed was pegged at 188mph.

This one was among the last built, is one of just 25 RHD cars and has had only one owner from new. It’s covered 4,000 miles and is expected to sell for between £110,000 and £125,000.

Next up is another CLK – a DTM. Built in very limited numbers in 2004, in true Ferrari-style you basically had to be invited to buy one. But then you were guaranteed exclusivity – just 40 RHD Coupes were produced, 100 in all – and much performance. A 5.4-litre supercharged V8 gave around 580bhp via a five-speed semi-auto gearbox, so 0-62mph took 3.8 seconds and the top speed was a nice, round 200mph.

A proper mechanical limited-slip diff, much DTM-style bodywork and proper suspension made this the most extreme Mercedes of its day. In the last 13 years this one’s had two owners, covered under 8,000 miles and accrued a full Mercedes service history. The price? Between £180,000 and £220,000.

Which one gets your vote?