Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Avantgarde

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The W209 Series Mercedes-Benz appeared in early 2004 as a Coupe and Convertible. Pitched somewhere between the C and the E Class, it was longer, wider, taller and heavier than its predecessor despite carrying over the CLK Coupe-Leicht-Kurt (Coupe-Light-Short) name tag.

The convertibles were built for Mercedes-Benz by Karmann and across Europe were sold in either Elegance (luxury) or Avantgarde (sport) trim levels. Highly specified, with everything you could think of including an electric top, they sold like hot cakes and were to remain in production until 2009.

Nestling just below the outrageous supercharged 5.5-litre AMG version sat the CLK500. As the name suggests it had 5.0-litre V8 which pumped out 302bhp and a road shredding 339lb-ft of torque. This enabled it to reach 60mph in just 5.8 seconds and it hardly needs adding that the top speed had to be electronically limited to 155mph.

More the ultimate cruiser than out-and-out sports machine, it bristled with every gadget known to man, the CLK500 being updated mid-series with a slightly more powerful 5.5-litre version, all models finally being replaced by the rather awkwardly styled W207.

This fine looking 5.0-litre example has had just one previous owner and has covered only some 83,600 miles from new in 2003. The service book has nine stamps, the first seven of which are through Mercedes-Benz main dealers, the remaining two from local garages. It was last serviced in January 2014 but has covered fewer than 400 miles since then, the vendor advising us that its Pearlescent Blue paintwork and grey leather interior remain in superb condition and that its MOT expires in June 2016.

The list of standard and optional gadgets fitted to this car is far too long to detail here, however the highlights include parking sensors, 17” five-spoke alloy wheels (with excellent tyres), electrically adjustable heated memory seats, sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity and Xenon headlights which come on automatically and project a beam from here to Kathmandu!

Costing well in excess of £45,000 when new, this well serviced, beautifully presented example is offered at a fraction of that sum today but will still get the new owner’s neighbours wondering if they’ve won the Lottery. We won’t tell if you don’t…