The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is one of those cars. Built in the late '90s to meet racing regulations, this machine was never just about turning heads — it was about winning races.

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster Estimate: £430,000-£500,000 612 bhp, 6,898 cc naturally-aspirated V12 engine with dual overhead camshafts, ...

For the ’98 season, the CLK GTR, with some help from the CLK LM, won all of the races in the FIA GT Championship season. The cars were so good at racing that they essentially killed the GT1 class.

Just 25 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR homologation specials were produced in 1998 and RM Sotheby's will auction the ninth one built in Monterey this August.

Unlike the 911 GT1, the CLK GTR was sold with functional race car-style air jacks. Watch the full video to see them in action, and to learn more details about this marvelous Mercedes.

That puts it in the same league as the Ferrari F50 and McLaren F1—though the CLK GTR remains a bit more under-the-radar, which only adds to its mystique. What Gearheads Can Take Away.