Chris’ Cool Cars: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

Chris’ Cool Cars: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

Earlier this month at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany, Mercedes put up one of two 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes for auction. When the hammer came down, the price was a record-breaking $142 million dollars, making the car the most expensive ever sold!

The 300 SLR was designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut for the 1955 Carrera Panamericana. Before it was able to race in that event, it was involved in a  tragedy at Le Mans where Mercedes racing driver Pierre Levegh and the SLR he as driving flew into a crowd of spectators, killing 83 people. This led to Mercedes withdrawing from motorsports for over three decades.

The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupe remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship program, the “Mercedes-Benz Fund”.