by "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
Published 01/14/2017 at 17:02
by "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
Published 01/14/2017 at 17:02
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STARS: 10
What would you guess is the rarest AMG of all time? The insane SL73 AMG ? They made almost 90 of those, everyone and their mother has one. The bonkers 300E 6.0 Hammer ? We’re not quite sure, they were all custom orders, so let’s say a couple hundred thousand were made. Even the multi-million dollar CLK-GTR has 35 road going examples in existence, making it virtually a dime a dozen. Then, there’s this. It looks like an ordinary CL500 from the early 00's; the sort of car you pick up for twelve grand and then fork over that same amount in repairs every year until you finally cry uncle. In fact, it’s the 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, a V12 tourer of which only 26 examples were produced.
From roughly 2000 to 2002, all of Mercedes’ “600" and “55 AMG” models were powered by naturally aspirated engines; a 5.8 V12 and a 5.4 V8 respectively. Around the end of 2002, both the “600" and “55" models were treated to new power plants. The 5.4 V8 (M113) gained a supercharger and intercooler for added oomph but was otherwise unchanged. The M137 V12 was a different story. While offering improved fuel-efficiency over its predecessor, it quickly became apparent that the V12 in the CL600 was something of a flop, producing less power and torque than the V12 in the old W140 CL600 and offering no other real improvements beyond fuel economy. Mercedes solved this problem by replacing the M137 with a new bi-turbo 5.5 (or 6.0 in AMG versions) V12, the M275. However, just before the switch to the new M275 and the introduction of the obscenly powerful CL65, AMG got their hands on the M137. They fettled with it, increased the displacement to 6.3 liters, and for just one month in November of 2001, they sold them.
The engine made its way into the S-Class, CL-Class, and perhaps most amusingly, the 2002 G-Class. Exact sales numbers for the V12 S63 are unknown, but Mercedes-Benz sold just 26 CL63 AMGs and five G63 AMGs. This was not for a lack of demand, but due to the extreme exclusivity of the cars. Like the CL65 that replaced it, the CL63 had a sticker price that translated to over 200,000 US dollars. Not that this translation matters, as the 26 CL63s, along with the S63s and G63s, were only made available in Europe and Asia. On top of that, they were only offered to the sort of people Mercedes deemed worth of such a car, mostly heads of state. The CL63 AMG produced 444hp and 457 lb-ft of torque, hit 60 in 4.8 seconds, and like all the Germans, had a governed top speed of 155mph. This put the performance of the CL63 and S63 right in between the lesser 55 models and their replacement 65 models.
If you are in the United States, sorry, but your odds of seeing Santa Claus flying on a sleigh towed by a herd of Bigfoots are better than your odds of seeing a 2001 CL63 AMG. For those in Europe and Asia, your chances aren’t much better. Combine the rarity of the cars with the fact that not all of them had AMG badging and that most of them wound up in the sealed, secured garage of some royalty or other, seeing one in the wild would be the spot of the century. It’s rare enough that on Mercedes-AMG forums, the first response to a post about the ‘01 S63/CL63 is usually, “There was no S63/CL63 in 2001.” So if you see a C215 in the wild, do as you would normally do. Admire its striking beauty, gorgeous proportions, and elegantly flowing pillarless roof. Pity the driver, who is likely off to sell some of their less vital organs in order to keep their old Benz on the road. But if you can, take a closer look at the car or Google search the plate number. You might be in the presence of one of the rarest and most exclusive modern Mercedes-Benz cars ever made. Nearly as exclusive, in fact, as an old A-Class .
"V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
01/14/2017 at 17:39, STARS: 1
As an interesting side note, the CL above appears to have had the tail lights swapped to the 2003+ style. I believe they made 22 S63s.
"Land_Yacht_225" (nadenator)
01/14/2017 at 18:35, STARS: 3
Wouldn’t touch one with a thirty foot barge pole. Being down on horsepower and torque wasn’t the biggest problem with the M137. In it’s normal configuration it was a weak engine...literally...it was physically weak and prone to warping and getting out of shape. One of the changes between it and the M275 was adding greater structural reinforcements within the block itself.
And then to bore out that block? It’s a good thing they’re all sitting in the private collections of the world’s royalty not being driven. I sincerely wouldn’t expect that engine to last for more than 20,000 miles.
"V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
01/14/2017 at 18:49, STARS: 0
Im still trying to find an M137 block for use as a coffe table...that’s about all its good for to be honest.
"NJAnon" (NJAnon)
01/15/2017 at 16:12, STARS: 0
eh, their design language was meh then IMO. All models looking the same, but having all these different letters and numbers on paper to try to fool you.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
01/15/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 2
That’s how German luxury cars work.
"NJAnon" (NJAnon)
01/15/2017 at 16:57, STARS: 1
Well that work needed help. :P
Luckily they now have some people at least on the US side that realized every car sitting in a parking lot that looks the same doesn’t help your image that well. Now in 2017, a $38,000 Mercedes and a $70,000 Mercedes look different.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
01/15/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 3
They do? One of these is a C-Class, one is an E-Class.
"NJAnon" (NJAnon)
01/15/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 1
The difference in dimensions and design are enough to separate them. That C class sides more pronounced and the back of the cars are different.
But for the record, I really don’t have much interest for Mercedes Benz and their price gouging. The 507 Edition is the only model I’d probably buy.
"V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
01/26/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 0
But what if I want my car to be all go and no show. My S600 has 500 hp and even more torque, but the only way you’d know that is by looking for the 3 badges. Sure the $225,000 car looks the same as a $98,000 car, but is that such a bad thing? The devil really is in the details with these cars.
"Lucien" (lucien2001)
03/07/2018 at 20:52, STARS: 1
I own one 2001 CL63....but my insurance company says it doesn’t exist
"Nick" (nickt123-)
03/19/2019 at 15:37, STARS: 0
Hi, we also own a 2001 CL63. We have it on a Trade policy so haven’t come across the problem you have and it’s currently sorned, however, we joined the MB world forum a couple of years ago and were repeatedly told it didn’t exist so we haven’t been back on the forum since. Nice to ‘virtually’ meet you.