The rare and ultra-expensive Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Straßenversion is one of the hardest vehicles to make a replica of since the only parts it had in common with the production CLK were the grille and headlights. Still, an independent car builder managed to fabricate a convincing result, putting a lot of work to create the car of his dreams.
The man behind the build is Johan Ackermann from Johannesburg, South Africa who was also involved with the four-door Alfa Romeo Brera we showcased a few months ago. The CLK GTR project – or ELK GTR as its creator calls it – started with a humble Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210, which got chopped up in order to come closer to the exotic proportions of the limited production hypercar. The roof and pillars are sourced from the CLK C208, effectively converting the model from a four-door sedan to a two-door coupe.
More: Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Replica Is Rarer Than The Real One… And That’s A Good Thing
Predictably, almost every piece of the bodywork needed to be bespoke, with a lot of welding and custom solutions. A look at the photos from the early development reveals how much lower and wider the vehicle needed to be compared to the donor car. One of the challenges was to create a bespoke front clamshell with a low nose but also enough room for the wheels and suspension underneath. The protruding bumpers, significantly wider side sills, and shoulders enhance the racecar stance alongside the multi-spoke alloy wheels which are shod in low-profile tires.
The racing-style rear wing couldn’t be missing from the game, while the side windows and rear glass got vents with an extra roof-mounted scoop showing where the engine should go. Thankfully, the double oval headlights and the taillights were carried over from the original E-Class making things a tad easier. On the other hand, the seats, dashboard, and door panels come from the SLK roadster in an effort to make the cabin sportier.
The builder admits that the vehicle has many differences with the CLK GTR, but says he didn’t expect to come that close knowing how hard the challenge was. Now he is well aware of the limitations of the W210 donor car, he believes he could come even closer in his next effort. Among the improvements he would like to make in a future replica are a lower roof, a stretched front overhang, a further drop on the bonnet, softer fender curves, and a shorter rear deck.
Despite the shortcomings, Ackermann says he is very proud of the result up to date, especially considering that only five months have passed since chopping the original E-Class with him doing all the fabrication work and two people helping out with the preparation and the painting.
Hopefully, the CLK GTR replica will be finished by the end of the year, as a fully functional vehicle with a powertrain. Speaking of which, the plan is to stick the glorious Mercedes-AMG V12 below the engine cover although this sounds like a costly and hard-to-find option which would also require a heavy dose of chassis upgrades.
