What do you get when you combine gobs of power, limited production numbers, and racecar-like looks? Answer: An instant classic and highly collectible work of art sometimes referred to as the CLK63 AMG Black Series. The engineers at Mercedes-Benz designed the Black Series after the F1 Pace car. With only 500 units produced world-wide, the US market received 349 units making this a rare site. Listed in Pleasant Grove, UT, we found this 2008 CLK63 AMG Black Series listed for sale at a reasonable $68,750 with only 38k miles.
The resemblance to Mercedes DTM series styling is undeniable. With exaggerated flared fenders, the Black Series looks primed for the track with a wide and aggressive stance. The front and rear bumpers feature functional air vents and carbon fiber trimmings. The wheels are 19" multi-spoke AMG wheels that are specific to the Black Series. Compared to the standard CLK63 AMG, the Black Series boasts slightly more power, bigger brakes, LSD, and various improvements in suspension in order to give the car adequate handling for real track performance. As a side note, the CLK63 AMG was only sold in the US market as a Cabriolet as the coupes were not offered in any other spec aside from the Black Series.
Under the hood, the legendary M156 engine has been given enlarged intake ducts, reprogrammed software, and a low-restriction sport exhaust resulting in 500 hp and 478 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is sent to the wheels with an AMG-tuned version of it's 7-speed automatic transmission which can be controlled by paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel. While the Black Series is 100 lbs lighter than a standard CLK63, it still tips the scales at over 3,900 lbs. The most impressive part is that it still can sprint to 60mph in a mere 4 seconds. The suspension has adjustable coil springs and ride height although you'll need wrench to do the tweaking.
On the inside, you'll still find creature comforts such as COMAND, Harman Kardon Logic 7 Surround Sound, and leather trimmed seats with additional bolstering to keep you situated in those tricky highway on-ramp situations. Some minor wear can be seen on the driver's seat side bolster which is something nearly impossible to avoid with such aggressive style seats. The steering wheel has a flat bottom, a nice touch inspired from the F1 series cars. Ultimately, this is a car you can comfortably drive to work and then abuse on the track on the weekends.
In the photos, the Black (040) paint presents extremely well and no blemishes are seen around the body. The seller states that he's spent notable time and money in bringing the car up to show standards. We'd certainly be curious to know what measures have been taken and all of the work done to the car. It appears to have paid-off and typically, this is the kind of seller you want to buy a car from. We did confirm the car has a clean, accident-free Carfax so we don't expect this car to remain on the market for long.
When new, the Black Series had a sticker price of nearly $140k. Some may say that's a lot for a W209, but in reality it was an absolute steal. Roughly 1-2 years ago, these cars could be had for significantly lower numbers than they are selling for today. It seems the secret is out and values are only continuing to appreciate. We feel this car is very well priced given it's condition and mileage so if you're in the market, this one is certainly worth a closer look.
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