The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster stands as a unique supercar, inspired by the FIA GT1 race car. This special edition boasts a 6.9-liter V8 engine, delivering an impressive 604 horsepower and 572 pound-feet (755 Nm) of torque, ensuring remarkable performance metrics.
Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 200 mph, this road-legal racer showcases its true racing DNA. A six-speed sequential manual transmission efficiently channels the power from the naturally aspirated V12 engine, mounted mid-rear, to the rear wheels.
Constructed with a lightweight yet robust carbon fiber and honeycomb aluminum monocoque chassis, weighing 2,205 pounds (1,000 kg), the CLK GTR features a double wishbone suspension with coil springs and pushrod-actuated shock absorbers. Its carbon composite braking system provides exceptional stopping power.
Mercedes-Benz produced only 28 units of the CLK GTR, with just 6 being roadsters. One of these rare specimens was recently seized by the FBI in connection with one of its most wanted fugitives. The car was linked to Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic skateboarder accused of leading a massive cocaine smuggling operation.
The vehicle, currently held as evidence in the case against the fugitive Canadian, was once owned by the Abu Dhabi royal family. Allegedly part of a global money laundering scheme, the Mercedes is estimated to be worth a staggering $12 million, according to Jeffrey Simser, a Toronto-based asset forfeiture expert, who notes that such schemes generate billions annually.
A Miami dealership imported this CLK GTR under a contract dated August 8, 2024, reportedly commissioned by rapper Drake. With only 13.6 miles on the odometer, this 22-year-old supercar is a true garage queen, rarely driven and meticulously preserved.
CBC News obtained sales invoices revealing that two luxury car dealerships in Missouri and Florida were involved in the transaction. The car was purchased last year by Rolan Sokolovski, a 37-year-old Toronto-based jeweler, who reportedly paid a $2 million deposit toward the $12 million price tag—a sum that makes even a Bugatti seem affordable.
According to CBC, the Mercedes was slated for delivery to Curated Vintage Supercars in Miami, where it would remain until Sokolovski settled the remaining balance. “We are honored to play a part in the story of such a monumental vehicle in automotive history,” he stated, calling it “one of the most spectacular unveilings ever.”
A month later, Curated shared an FBI Facebook post announcing a $15 million reward for information leading to the capture of Ryan Wedding, one of the agency’s most wanted fugitives. Wedding remains at large.
Authorities identified Sokolovski as one of Wedding’s primary money launderers, suggesting that Wedding orchestrated the car’s purchase. The U.S. Department of the Treasury described the acquisition as part of a complex global asset network designed to launder Wedding’s vast illicit profits.
Ryan Wedding, a notorious drug kingpin, represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mercedes-Benz associated with him is believed to be the most valuable asset ever seized by U.S. federal authorities.
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