The owner of a Los Angeles dealership has sued Mercedes-Benz and DaimlerChrysler, claiming the Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR he bought for $1.7 million is a lemon.

Mark Johnston, co-owner of Grand Prix Motors, told the Los Angeles Times that when he took the 12-cylinder, 612-hp car out for its first drive with a prospective buyer two years ago, the oil light came on, the gears wouldn't shift properly and the car shuddered violently. The vehicle is one of five known to exist and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive production car ever made.

Johnston claims he has been unable to get Mercedes to pay for repairs. A Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson said: "The customer bought the vehicle directly from Germany. We don't import it, and we don't have the ability or the parts or the training to service it."

According to a release from H.W.A. GmbH, the producer of the vehicle, the CLK-GTR Roadster was purchased from H.W.A. in 2003. H.W.A. contends they were not contacted about the matter until 2005. During a subsequent on-site vehicle examination, H.W.A says it was established that the vehicle had undergone extensive alterations by third parties in order to enable it to be imported into the U.S. H.W.A. contends that it could not be held responsible for the operation of the vehicle after the modifications were made.

Despite the alterations, H.W.A. says it offered to help fix the problems with the car as a complementary service, an offer it says was rejected. Instead, H.W.A says a lawsuit was filed at the District Court of Heilbronn in Germany with the intent of withdrawing from the contract. The lawsuit was later dropped without explaination, according to H.W.A.

H.W.A also clairified that DaimlerChrysler AG, Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC were not involved in the development, production or sales of the vehicle at any point in time.

General

Make Mercedez-Benz
Model 1998 CLK-GTR
Powertrain Layout Mid Engine / RWD
Base Price $1 573 000
Dimensions

WheelBase 2670 mm / 105.1 in
Length 4854 mm / 191.1 in
Height 1102 mm / 43.4 in
Width 1951 mm / 76.8 in
Weight 1000 kg / 2205 lbs
Front / Rear Track F 1600 mm / 63.0 in
R 1600 mm / 63.0 in
Engine

Configuration V12
Valvetrain DOHC, 4 valves / cylinder
Displacement 5987 cc / 365.3 cu in
Power 447.4 Kw / 600.0 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque 699.6 Nm / 516.0 ft lbs @ 3700 rpm
Bore 89.0 mm / 3.5 in
Stroke 80.2 mm / 3.2 in
Compression Ratio 12.0:1
BHP / Liter 100.22 bhp
Redline 7800 rpm
Transmission

Type 6-Speed Manual
Final Drive 2.88:1
1st Gear Ratio 2.71:1
2nd Gear Ratio 2.20:1
3rd Gear Ratio 1.80:1
4th Gear Ratio 1.52:1
5th Gear Ratio 1.33:1
6th Gear Ratio 1.18:1
Chassis & Body

Steering Rack & Pinion w/ Power Assist
Tire Sizes F 280/35R-18
R 330/40R-18
Brake Types Vented Carbon FIbre Discs
Brake Size F 381 mm / 15.0 in
R 356 mm / 14.0 in
Available ABS Not Available
Body Material Carbon Fibre
Performance

Top Speed 191.0 mph / 307.4 kph
0 - 30 mph 1.7 seconds
0 - 60 mph 3.4 seconds
0 - 100 mph 5.7 seconds
0 - ¼ mile 9.4 seconds
Lateral Acceleration est 1.70g
EPA City / Hwy Not Available