*Image from Mercedes Benz Group AG

 

Mercedes-Benz has always been a brand known for luxury and exclusivity. This month, they reinforced that with an unprecedented auction sale. One of just two 1955 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés ever made sold for a staggering 135 million Euros, smashing the previous record held by a Ferrari classic car. This is a clear sign that Mercedes is still at the top of its game when it comes to luxury vehicles!

The stunning Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut is recognisable by its unusual line and butterfly doors. It was based on a racing car, the W196 R Grand Prix, which won two Formula 1 world championships in 1954 and 1955.

The auction took place on the 5th of May at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany, in partnership with Sotheby’s. It was a private sale with select private collectors invited to bid.

The hammer fell at a record-breaking price of 135m Euros. The record was previously held by a Ferrari 250 GTO, which was sold at auction by RM Sotheby’s for €45 million.

The Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut is an iconic piece of automotive history – one of just two prototypes built at the time. It was named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. This special Merc is considered to be one of the finest examples of automotive engineering and design worldwide.

The car was owned and sold by Mercedes Benz, who will retain the other one in their museum collection. The decision to sell such a rare and beautiful vehicle can’t have been easy, but Mercedes Benz is putting the proceeds towards providing scholarships for young people to learn and research environmental science and decarbonisation.

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, says:

“The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand. The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was taken with very sound reasoning – to benefit a good cause. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship programme. With the “Mercedes-Benz Fund,” we would like to encourage a new generation to follow in Rudolf Uhlenhaut’s innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies, particularly those that support the critical goal of decarbonisation and resource preservation. At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling: A Mercedes-Benz is by far the most valuable car in the world.”

The private buyer of this superb vehicle has agreed to present it to the public at exceptional events so it can be viewed and enjoyed. It’s fantastic to see a car manufacturer investing in the future with such an important fund. Global warming is a huge problem which needs addressing. This large injection of cash will enable the engineers of the future to build a cleaner, greener future.