Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet (A208) · CLK Cabriolet

A208

The first CLK with a folding soft top.

Production: 1998–2003
Built: 68,948
Body: Cabriolet
Chassis: A208

Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet (A208) (A208)

The CLK name arrived with sunshine — the A208 opened Mercedes-Benz's new compact-coupé line to the sky, packaging CLK elegance and a power-operated soft top into a body sized between the old W124 cabriolet and the SL roadsters.

Debuted in 1998 alongside the C208 coupé, the A208 CLK Cabriolet shared the W208 platform's multi-link rear axle and a range of straight-six and V8 engines, including AMG variants that gave the line genuine performance credibility. The automated hood folded beneath a padded cover; with the hard tonneau in place, the car read as a sleek coupé rather than a compromised conversion.

Mercedes-Benz produced the A208 from 1998 to 2003 and built 68,948 examples — making it one of the highest-volume premium cabriolets of its generation and the template for the CLK convertible line that would continue on the A209 chassis.

A208 interior — Cabin details of the A208, as preserved in period photography.

Every model.

11 model designations across 1998–2003 — engines, chassis codes and production figures for the A208.

Modello	Model year	Telaio	Motore	Totale
CLK 200	1999	208.435	111.945	9,077
CLK 200	2000	208.435	111.945	incluso sopra
CLK 200 Kompressor	1999	208.445	111.944	2,654
CLK 200 Kompressor	2000	208.445	111.944	incluso sopra
CLK 200 Kompressor	2001–2002	208.444	111.956	12,906
CLK 230 Kompressor	1999	208.447	111.975	13,527
CLK 230 Kompressor	2000	208.447	111.975	incluso sopra
CLK 230 Kompressor	2001–2003	208.448	111.982	10,317
CLK 320	2000–2003	208.465	112.940	incluso sopra
CLK 55 AMG	2000–2001	208.470	113.984	incluso sopra
CLK 55 AMG	2002–2003	208.474	113.984	incluso sopra

* Il dato di produzione pubblicato copre tutte le serie di quel modello; la fonte non lo scompone ulteriormente.

Studio profile of the A208 — the proportions that defined this chassis.

A208 rear three-quarter view — Rear three-quarter view of the A208.

Engines.

The M113 as fitted to the A208.

M113

113.9434.3 L · 4,266 cc
279 PS
205 kW · 275 hp a 5,750 giri/min
400 N·m
295 lb·ft a 3,000 giri/min
113.9845.4 L · 5,439 cc
347 PS
255 kW · 342 hp a 5,500 giri/min
510 N·m
376 lb·ft a 2,000 giri/min