Given the option between this and the new plug-in hybrid C63, we'd ALWAYS choose this.
If you need one car to show you how far Mercedes-AMG has fallen and how much the new four-cylinder plug-in hybrid AMG C63 has failed us, it's this, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series.
Back when Black Series models were more common than just the AMG GT Black Series as a range-topper, the CLK 63 Black was a race car-inspired German muscle car for the road that traded comfort for noise and safety for more noise.
Now, a pristine 14,000-mile example has appeared on Bring A Trailer that is bound to fetch top dollar. With just one day remaining on bidding at the time of writing, the bids so far have it sitting at $70,000, which will only climb.
Mercedes-Benz only ever gave the Black Series nomenclature to closed-roof coupes, making them the closest thing to a race car for the road you could buy en masse from the brand. But the CLK 63 Black Series was perhaps one of the angriest, taking influence from the CLK DTM and genuine DTM racers.
At its heart was the brand's iconic M156 V8 engine displacing 6.2 liters (despite 6.3-liter badges – it was 6,208cc) and producing 500 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. That all went to the rear axle through a seven-speed automatic gearbox and limited-slip differential, with multi-spoke 19-inch wheels and 285/30-section rear tires desperately trying and failing to contain the power on offer.
Adjustable coilovers let you tune the suspension to suit the road or track, but in any state, the CLK 63 Black Series was brutal on the road, crashing over bumps and squealing the race-grade brakes at low speeds.
From personal experience, having driven one in my early days as a writer after blagging my way into a dealer test drive long before any OEM handed me the keys to a test car, I can tell you that the CLK Black Series was constantly straining at the leash, ready to rip the rear tires from the tarmac at a moments notice and continuously bombarding the senses with stimuli.
The example being sold on BaT is mostly flawless. The wheels have light curb rash, but the bodywork is mint, and the paint is almost immaculate. A few nicks on the underside point to use on the road, while the black leather interior (with no rear seats, per the manufacturer) shows light wear.
It comes with all documentation, including the Monroney, and the first aid kit, brochures, service manual, and spare key. It has a clean Maryland title and a mostly clean Carfax report, with damage reported on the front end in November 2016, while a previous owner also replaced the rear bumper. Currently residing in Maryland (original delivery took place in Arizona at a price of $138,375), we wouldn't worry about those minor repairs, as this is a mint example of a collector's car that shows up AMG's current four-cylinder efforts as being simply inferior.
The gearbox was clunky, the ride harsh, and the noise deafening. Still, the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series is an unforgettable driving experience and one of the finest creations to come from the Tobias Moers era at AMG. With only 500 made (349 for the United States), it's a rare example and an opportunity that likely won't come around every day.
Keyword: 14K-Mile Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Black Series Proves AMG Has Failed Us