Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG F1 Edition

A separate article on a limited edition, 20-year-old special model? Are the authors at Secret Classics still doing well? The answer is a double yes. Of course, we wouldn’t report here on the various special editions of the Volkswagen Golf or a variant of the Lada Niva for eastern Ukraine. However, the Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG in the F1 Edition occupies a special position. It was deliberately modelled on the safety car of the 2000 Formula 1 season, where the use of carbon fibre composites for various components, from the chassis to the brake discs, has long been a matter of course in the premier class of motorsport, or was even prescribed by the regulations.

In the Safety Car, Mercedes-Benz has used the high-performance material carbon fibre for the first time in a road vehicle for the brake system. Especially when used as the lead vehicle in front of the F1 racing cars, the brakes are required to deliver maximum performance, which can be better guaranteed under continuous load thanks to the improved heat dissipation of the carbon-ceramic discs. After successfully testing this system in several prototypes and the F1 Safety Car, Mercedes-Benz presented the CL 55 AMG F1 Edition at the end of May 2000, with no changes to the V8 engine with 265 kW/360 hp and 530 Newton metres of torque compared to the normal CL 55 AMG. The electronic top speed limit of 250 km/h was also retained. After production at the Mercedes plant in Esslingen-Mettingen, the carbon fibres were specially coated with silicon and eight-piston callipers were supplied by Brembo. Full braking with this system corresponds to a braking power of up to 1,471 kW/2,000 hp. In addition to the higher heat resistance, the brake discs save around 60 percent in weight and also respond much more sensitively than a steel brake system. In the original press release from the year 2000, two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Häkkinen has his say: “The most important thing in a sports car is not the engine, but the brakes”.

The standard equipment of the F1 Edition included 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/40 tyres at the front and 285/35 tyres at the rear, a sportier set-up of the ABC suspension (Active Body Control) and adaptations of ABS, ESP and Brake Assist to the carbon-ceramic brake system. The only exterior colour available was ‘Brilliant silver metallic’. Behind the front wheels are ‘F1 Edition’ logos, which were also used on the illuminated door sill trims and on the centre console, the latter also featuring consecutive numbering of the respective vehicle. Inside, there are more strongly contoured sports seats with black and silver leather upholstery and embroidered AMG logos, an AMG sports steering wheel with partially perforated, two-colour leather upholstery, carbon trim and an automatic gear selector lever in leather and carbon.

If there had not been a limitation to 55 units worldwide from the outset, the distribution of this special model would have been limited at the latest by the proud price of DM 330,000 per vehicle. One vehicle is part of the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection. Bilder: Mercedes-Benz