RE: Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series: Spotted

RE: Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series: Spotted

Thursday 23rd November 2017

Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series: Spotted

A blast from Affalterbach's outrageous past...



Those who remember the German tuner products of yesteryear, cars like the RUF Yellowbird and AMG Hammer, could be forgiven for thinking today’s offerings seem somewhat staid in comparison. They may produce enough horsepower to make a Triple Crown winner jealous, but all the drift modes in the world can’t dispell a nagging feeling that they’re somehow too accesible, too competent, too sanitised.


Well, for people like you, there’s the Black Series - Affalterbach’s attempt to restore some insanity to proceedings. Having begun steadily with the somewhat peculiar choice of a souped up SL55, the Black Series really found its feet with this, the CLK63. With its 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 putting out 514hp - up from 488hp in the standard AMG - and 465lb ft, it was capable of hitting 62mph in 4.3 seconds before going on to a top speed of 186mph.

Aside from increased power, the CLK Black's body was lighter, thanks to carbon fibre reinforced plastic for the interior panels and centre console, and forged aluminium wheels weighing just 11kg a piece. Almost managing to compensate for the stronger internals required to deal with all that grunt.


On track, where it was designed to take on the 911 GT3, it gained a reputation for being incredibly quick, although rather willing to step out of line. Magnificent in the right hands and a bit of a handful in the wrong ones, this was a car that rewarded driving ability, instead of falsely enhancing it.

It looked the part too, with those multi-spoke rims, a new front splitter, huge carbon fibre diffuser and dramatically flared wheel arches, accommodating its wider track, the Black Series was as close to a DTM car for the road as it got - except for the CLK DTM Coupe, perhaps...

With prices for those currently up in the stratosphere though, the £90,000 asked for one of the 25 UK Black Series cars seems almost reasonable. Not only as an exceptional driving machine and highly collectable piece of Mercedes’ history, but as a step back in time to when an AMG special's power and handling bias was intended to keep you on your toes.


SPECIFICATION - MERCEDES CLK63 AMG BLACK SERIES

Engine: 6,208cc, V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 514@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 464@5,250rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 32,000miles
Price new: £100,000
Yours for: £89,950

See the original advert here

 

 

 

 

Author
Discussion

Eviltad

Original Poster:

1,320 posts

178 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Yes!

I always have a little browse of the classifieds for a Black Series and see they are "creeping" up in value but not silly money yet.

Definitely Rarer than the C63 Black Series which I seem to see frequently.

Ninja59

3,691 posts

111 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Love these things, heard one recently near Simon Furlonger. Lovely things, and much more "restrained" than some of the later versions wearing the black series badges.

Not sure if I prefer the CLK DTM though if you were looking for less restraint...

4941cc

25,867 posts

205 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
£50k less than I thought they'd be by now.

Shedloads less than a DTM, which are mega.

sh33n

194 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
I know you can't compare old with new...but then the article did, so I can too smile

When you compare this to say a M4 CS, at the same cost - this looks so much more focused (like the more expensive again GTS) and I'd bet this is going to hold it's value very strongly, maybe even climb a bit more over the years.

The M4 CS is certainly not doing to hold it's value....

Certainly a decent buy and 90k doesn't sound all that unreasonable.

MrHooky

196 posts

141 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Only £10k depreciation since bought too so man maths for buying new would have stacked up.

Didn't Clarkson own one of these too?

4941cc

25,867 posts

205 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
sh33n said:
The M4 CS is certainly not doing to hold it's value...
E46 CS and CSL, E92 GTR, F82 GTS all doing very well in terms of value. The F8x CS (as they've just announced an M3 as well as M4) won't be produced in huge numbers and is sufficiently differentiated to justify the (now retired) CSL moniker. Lightweight GTS dash and centre console, door panels, carbon exterior panels, extra power and model specific chassis changes and brakes etc.

It'll drop for a while, whilst the F8x cars are still being produced and until the first of the next generation M3/4 standard cars appear, then it'll start firming up and head back towards new price, eventually beyond for the lowest mileage garage queens.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
It may be Clarkson's?

It's his spec, black, buckets and right year. Although he sold it with around 18k miles I think - so it's either done a lot since or it's another one.

I'd buy one but simply too expensive for me..getting into Ferrari money.

sh33n

194 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
4941cc said:
E46 CS and CSL, E92 GTR, F82 GTS all doing very well in terms of value. The F8x CS (as they've just announced an M3 as well as M4) won't be produced in huge numbers and is sufficiently differentiated to justify the (now retired) CSL moniker. Lightweight GTS dash and centre console, door panels, carbon exterior panels, extra power and model specific chassis changes and brakes etc.

It'll drop for a while, whilst the F8x cars are still being produced and until the first of the next generation M3/4 standard cars appear, then it'll start firming up and head back towards new price, eventually beyond for the lowest mileage garage queens.
Maybe in ~10 years I'll eat my hat on this one, but I can't see the F8x CS having the same kudos and pull of the previous related gens. The F82 GTS and DTM are indeed holding fairly firm, but they are very limited and top of the ladder, not in the middle of the range.

BMW have not said how many CS they will make, so it's not really limited by BMW, probably more by demand. But indeed it will be rare as not many people will fork out 50% more of standard model for a sprinkling of GTS stuff.

Even BMW don't rate the risiduals of the CS that strongly, that can be seen by comparing a 'standard' F8x with a F8x CS - the GFV is remarkably similar.

Ninja59

3,691 posts

111 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
MrHooky said:
Only £10k depreciation since bought too so man maths for buying new would have stacked up.

Didn't Clarkson own one of these too?
Yes he did for a few years, not sure of the VRN or chassis number though of the 25.

Simon Furlonger have sold K1 CLK (the one Clarkson drove in TG) in the past year or so (appears it is back up for sale! https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

They have/had a black one for sale as well, I remember seeing one of the silver ones with 91k on or something stupid though (yes not a typo 90,000 miles!)

Edited by Ninja59 on Thursday 23 November 13:57

4941cc

25,867 posts

205 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
sh33n said:
Maybe in ~10 years I'll eat my hat on this one, but I can't see the F8x CS having the same kudos and pull of the previous related gens. The F82 GTS and DTM are indeed holding fairly firm, but they are very limited and top of the ladder, not in the middle of the range.

BMW have not said how many CS they will make, so it's not really limited by BMW, probably more by demand. But indeed it will be rare as not many people will fork out 50% more of standard model for a sprinkling of GTS stuff.

Even BMW don't rate the risiduals of the CS that strongly, that can be seen by comparing a 'standard' F8x with a F8x CS - the GFV is remarkably similar.
I agree with most of that, the E46 CS may well be the best indicator. As to the GFV element, true - as it also was for E46 M3 vs. CSL (I was selling them new), but reflecting back now. Finance company underwriters will take the safe short term view, as makes sense. If the car outperforms their predictions, there is a) no risk to them and b) it's a great result for the customer. Similar also from £60k for a standard C63 coupe, but £90k for a Motorsport Edition.

Time will tell - I for one will be all too happy at the buying end to see them worth as little as possible 5-10 years down the line! hehe

Amirhussain

11,486 posts

162 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
One of my all time favourite cars. Still remember when Clarkson took it to Wales on Top Gear.

TrickyTrevM5

297 posts

185 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
First on the lottery win list for me

Uncle John

4,269 posts

190 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Lovely car.

Just the other day this was on a re-run of Top Gear. Clarkson loved it and it looked very special as it bashed it's way across the wet Welsh countryside.

And that rear three quarter shot......nurse....!!!

Edited by Uncle John on Thursday 23 November 14:23

CaptainRAVE

360 posts

111 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Amazing how these have held their price.

BlackFlag

99 posts

76 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
CaptainRAVE said:
Amazing how these have held their price.
Not really. They are amazing vehicles!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Amirhussain said:
One of my all time favourite cars. Still remember when Clarkson took it to Wales on Top Gear.
Mine too, one of my favourite pieces that he did. amongst all the stupidity they managed to prove they really were car lovers at heart.



Owlwood

251 posts

155 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
I think these look even cooler now than when they came out. Looks so much better than the current C coupe shape.

WCZ

10,492 posts

193 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
one of the best cars I've ever driven, didn't realize there was only 25 uk cars although I was aware that pre top-gear being aired it was a difficult sell for merc.

they are so rigid that you can easily get a wheel off the ground by turning in too quickly at 5mph when moving onto your drive xD

knew a guy in alderly edge with a dtm too who seemed to rave about it at the time

406dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
From one of Matt Farah's videos I learned that not only does Chris Harris own one of these, he apparently paid a small fortune to someone to sort-out the gearshifts (generally the car's weakest link - the auto MB used at that point was a bit of a slushbox - certainly compared to a modern box)

So you might want to budget another 5-figure-sum to get that sorted too ;0

Burnham

3,668 posts

258 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
I have so much want for one of these. I'd finance up to my eyeballs for one if I was allowed.