Mercedes-Benz produced only two examples of the 300 SLR, which was one of the fastest cars of its era, reaching 186 mph!
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is a rare beauty in the automotive world. It was built and designed by the Mercedes race department and named after its chief engineer and designer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Imagined as a racecar and having already completed test drives with certain Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel, the only two 300 SLR models ever produced ultimately ended in Uhlenhaut’s garage and Merc’s Museum each.
The specs and features of this vintage beauty were far ahead of its time, reaching 186 mph (300 km/h) when sports cars back in the day struggled to make 124 mph (200 km/h). But the unique design might be even more impressive, particularly the model’s distinctive gullwing doors as it was based on the 300SL. As a result, the car was even named ‘A Mona Lisa among the cars’ in the automotive community.
Mercedes was pressured for years to put the only 300 SLR in its possession on auction, but the company resisted. However, Merc finally gave up this year, carrying an auction in secrecy to protect the client’s identity.
The 300 SLR reached a staggering $143 Million value at the auction, making it by far the most expensive car ever sold. The previous record-holder, the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, reached a price of $45 million back in 2018.
Mercedes-Benz sold the car to a private collector who preferred to stay anonymous. It was an exclusive event open to only a selected few who share the same values as the company. However, the new owner has agreed to the company’s wishes to leave the car accessible for exhibitions and public displays during special occasions.
“The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was taken with very sound reasoning — to benefit a good cause,” Ola Källenius, chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group’s board, said in a statement.
Mercedes promised to allot the auctioned funds to establish a global “Mercedes-Benz Fund,” providing scholarships for the study of environmental science and decarbonization, as an encouragement for the new generations to follow in ‘Rudolf Uhlenhaut’s innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies.’ “At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling,” added Källenius.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR’s record happened at the same time as used, and new car prices are reaching vertigo-inducing prices. Let’s hope that this doesn’t make things worse, as cars are already too expensive!
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
