Introduced in 2007, the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series represented the most focused road car yet to emerge from AMG’s Performance Studio, developed at a time when Affalterbach was beginning to establish its own identity beyond simply building faster versions of standard Mercedes models.

Inspired in part by the marque’s Formula 1 Safety Car programme, the Black Series transformed the already formidable CLK63 into a far more serious machine, pairing motorsport influenced chassis development with one of the most celebrated naturally-aspirated engines of the modern era.

At its heart sits AMG’s hand built M156 V8, the first engine developed entirely in-house by AMG.

Displacing 6.2-litres and producing 507bhp with 465lb/ft of torque, the Black Series delivered performance that rivalled supercars, accelerating from 0 to 60mph in just 4.1 seconds and continuing to an electronically limited 186mph.

Power is delivered through AMG’s Speedshift 7-speed transmission, while a wider track,...