19,419 Actual Mile CLK63 AMG Black Series 6.2L 7 Speed

If you had to own just one car for the rest of your life, what would it be? It's a tough question and one most of us would struggle to answer. The best bet would be something well rounded; something stylish, powerful, luxurious, comfortable - oh, and it should handle on rails. That makes for a pretty short list topped by this 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Black Series. In stock form, it produces 507hp, 478lb-ft of torque, turns the quarter in 12.6 seconds, and sounds like a rolling bar fight at anything above idle. Unquestionably one of the most desirable AMG products ever unleashed on the general public, these cars retailed for over $135k and were released to the US in very limited numbers. This example has seen just 19,419 miles of road use and features some great upgrades from C2 Design in Tampa, FL. Rare, capable, and tastefully upgraded, cars just don't get much better than this Benz.

Depending on who your source is, there were somewhere between 349 and 376 of these cars produced for the US market. If you're looking at the car from the exclusivity angle, even the high end of that estimate is a great baseline. There just aren't many of these around. This particular coupe is finished in a popular Mercedes color known as Iridium Silver Metallic and, thanks to a pampered life, the exterior still presents as new. There are no signs of dents, dings, scratches or any other standard sign of use and the surface feels smooth to the touch. AMG and Mercedes both have a history of high quality work, so it should come as little surprise that fitment on this coupe is virtually perfect. Panel gaps are tight and the doors shut easily with a commanding thud typical of high-end European cars.

The Black Series is said to be based on the Official 2006 F1 Safety Car but a closer look reveals more than a few nods to the DTM (German Touring Car Championship) CLK racers. At the front, AMG added a few extra air scoops and those carbon fiber brake ducts are real from both a material and functional standpoint. The grille has been painted black and bolts in between a pair of Bi-Xenon headlights. The wide fascia wraps around, connecting with the muscular flared fender while exaggerated side skirts connect the fenders and quarters. The familiar roofline arcs over the cabin, completed by unmarred factory glass. Roll the windows down and the interior is exposed, free from any sort of pillar in the middle. Head toward the back of the car where a carbon fiber decklid spoiler combines with a carbon fiber diffuser to frame the rear view. In between, CLK63 and AMG Black Series badge identify the car while quad AMG exhaust tips jut out below the diffuser, completing the aggressive look.

At the core of this machine is a rev-happy M156 6.2L V8 hand-built by an AMG team member and upgraded by C2 Design. The core is an aluminum block with a 4.02-inch bore and 3.72-inch stroke – a block design and bore spacing unique to AMG. The engine offers a DOHC 32-valve configuration with port fuel injection supplying go juice. It's the same basic setup used in the regular CLK63 AMG but enlarged intake ducts, reprogrammed software, and a new low-restriction sport exhaust helped the Black Series gain a 25hp lead on their already-quick siblings. Of course, more horsepower is generally a good thing, so this car has also been treated to a few extra upgrades. C2 Design started with an ECU upgrade then followed through with a bigger throttle body, high-flow air boxes, a set of headers, and high-flow catalytic converters. The combination adds up to a significant change in sound and feel. Paired with the seven-speed transmission which allows users the option to shift via paddles or simply automate the entire process, this is an extremely capable and focused car.

The upgrades continue underneath the surface where the chassis makes full use of that power. That seven-speed spins power back to a Kleenmann limited slip differential which replaces the stock rear end with industrial strength hardware. Around the drivetrain, much of the suspension is all new for the Black Series, with shocks that feature adjustable rebound and compression dampening as well as adjustable springs which are currently set to lower the center of gravity and lessen unsightly wheel gap. Further supports comes from extensive bracing at the front strut towers, in the car's front section, and in the trunk area. Comparison to other luxury cars stops at handling where the 3,911lb coupe offers 0.96 g of grip through the corners. The stock steering system provides plenty of feedback while the ABS-equipped brakes clamp down on upgraded Evosport rotors at all four corners. Compared with the standard CLK63, the Black Series car has a rear track 2.6 inches wider and a front track almost three inches wider. This car fills that extra space with 19-inch AMG wheels with machined faces and powder coating in between the spokes. Paired with sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sports with 265/30ZR19 front and 295/30ZR19 rear tires and 12mm spacers all around, fitment is impeccable.

Between the doors, Mercedes luxury is still priority, though it was put on a diet for the Black Series. The highlight has to be the leather-wrapped and deeply bolstered sport seats, designed to hold you and a passenger firmly in place through any maneuver the car is capable of performing. Saving weight was a serious consideration so there is no back seat – just a sculpted scoop where the seats would have gone. The dashboard hosts a carbon fiber instrument bezel with refreshingly plainspoken gauges that cover fuel, time, speed, revs, and temperature. Further to the right, the stock head unit lives between carbon fiber accents. The unit Is capable of handling phone calls, navigation, terrestrial and satellite radio, and works in harmony with the CD changer located in the glove compartment. Above that CD changer, you'll find an integrated Passport radar detector to help you fly under the radar. The center console offers more carbon fiber trim, a pair of cupholders, and a small but surprisingly functional mode selector placed just behind controls for the HVAC system and heated seats. Naturally, everything from the leather-accented door panels to the rich black carpet carry the traditional level of Mercedes quality.

The sale of this sleek CLK63 Black Series includes the original operator's manuals, service information, a reference guide, a navigation DVD, roadside assistance information, Mercedes-Benz club information, tire information, and a receipt for service.

A lot of publications list cars like the BMW M3 coupe, the Porsche 911 Turbo, and the Jaguar XKR coupe as competitors to the CLK63 Black Series. The truth is, the Mercedes is in a league of its own. It's a luxury cruiser possessed by dark muscle car forces that allow it capabilities most 3,911-lb cars simply can't match. Factor in exclusivity, the upgrades by C2 Design, and the fact that this car has seen just 19,419 actual miles and this Benz becomes an even more impressive value. If you're ready to put the German equivalent of a muscle car in your garage, don't miss the chance to bring home this rare 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Black Series today!