Last year it was the cabriolet. Now the harder-edged, more race car-representative Coupe twin is up for auction.

POLE position for price: That’s the expectation from an auctioneer handling sale of a rare road car built to celebrate a big motorsport moment.

Positive vibes about the collector car market and experience of finding an owner for its equally collectible sister machine also has Webb’s feeling confident about achieving top dollar for the Mercedes-AMG car it is soon to sell.

The Auckland auction house says it’s possible the 2005 CLK DTM AMG Coupe will also follow the 2006 cabriolet version they sold last year in heading overseas.

“We had the privilege of exporting the cabriolet to an international collector,” Webb’s brand and marketing manager Elizabeth Boadicea Snow said.

“Given the vehicle’s exceptional rarity and global recognition, this outcome was always likely and it reaffirms our commitment to pursuing international outreach for ultra-rare motor cars of this calibre.”

Will it prove more valuable than the open-top sister machine?

That car was valued at $650,000- $850,000, but fetched $535,000, not a lot more than it was selling for when new. The Coupe is thought to be worth between $550,000-$700,000.

But gut feel is that the market is running hotter now than last year. Also, the Coupe is regarded by aficionados as being the more ‘pure’ type.

“There have been numerous encouraging indicators in recent months, suggesting that there is genuine cause for optimism in the current collectors’ car market,” Snow said.

“We’ve already received serious enquiries about this vehicle.”

Both cars were owned by Kim Dotcom, a controversial internet entrepreneur who created a well-known collection of exotic cars.

Set to go under the hammer as the most exclusive item among a selection of cars, motorbikes and automobilia on April 6, the Coupe is a bone fide rarity.

Just 100 were built and, of those, only 40 were in right hand drive as presented.

High profile owners have including Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Takuma Sato. Fellow drivers from Formula One who settled for the soft-top car were Juan Pablo Montoya and Mika Häkkinen.

The cars were created by HWA, a specialist division that also produced Mercedes-Benz’s race cars in the DTM touring car championship, favoured by German brands.

A celebration of Mercedes-AMG having won the 2003 series, the types are now considered the proto-Black Series before the Black Series cars that AMG subsequently created in greater volume.

The Coupe was the more prized; being more representative of the race car and more favoured by Bernd Schneider, the works driver who took that ’03 title.

It runs a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 pushing out 433kW. It is able to reach 100kmh from a standing start in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 322kmh.

Snow says the success of the cabriolet sale undoubtedly helped Webb’s gain representation for the hardtop.

“Vendors recognise the global potential of Webb’s marketing and client reach, often leading to repeat consignments.

“From one auction to the next, we frequently see this effect across all marques and models.”

Even though the new car market was down in 2024, interest in quality used cars going to auction hasn’t been. she said.

“Throughout 2024, Webb’s auctions have performed strongly — even as many described the broader market as challenging.

“Despite ongoing global headwinds, we remain confident in our ability to sustain this positive momentum.”

Many buyers viewed market fluctuations as an opportunity to enhance their collections during less competitive periods, she said.

“That said, ultra-rare cars often remain resilient, somewhat insulated from wider market conditions.”

With that mind, there was expectation of “a level of engagement that reflects the widespread renown of these cars.

“Its provenance is well documented online, and it is very competitively priced compared to other examples that have recently come to market.
“… this car holds strong appeal for collectors in the UK, Australia, and other right-hand drive markets.”

Asked if there is a reserve on this latest car and, iif so, how much, or if any other special conditions for sale applied, Snow was coy.

“We do not disclose the reserves of any lot. However, we encourage interested buyers to speak with us ahead of the auction — we’re more than happy to answer any questions.”