1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe bought for document $143M

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One in all two 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes has bought for 135 million euros ($143 million at present alternate charges), making it the costliest automobile of all time, Mercedes stated Thursday in a press launch.

The gullwing coupe got here from Mercedes’ personal assortment and was purchased by an unnamed collector at an public sale held on the Mercedes-Benz Museum on Could 5. The sale was organized with assist from public sale home RM Sotheby’s. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Mercedes-Benz Fund, which can present academic and analysis scholarships within the areas of environmental science and decarbonization, the automaker stated.

The coupe is called for its creator, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the boss of Mercedes’ racing division within the years instantly earlier than and after World Battle II. Along with the coupe that bears his title, Uhlenhaut’s credit embody the W196 Grand Prix automobile and the 300 SLR sports activities racer that famously received the Mille Miglia within the arms of Stirling Moss.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

The Uhlenhaut Coupe was supposed as a successor to Moss’ roofless 300 SLR. It had a bored-and-stroked model of the W196’s straight-8 and was clothed in streamlined bodywork incorporating the gullwing doorways that had already appeared on the 300 SL street automobile by this time.

Nevertheless, the Uhlenhaut Coupe by no means received an opportunity to race. Shortly after it was accomplished, Mercedes pulled out of racing following a disastrous crash on the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans. Other than a handful of rallies and privateer efforts, Mercedes would not formally return to racing till the Eighties.

The 2 Uhlenhaut Coupe prototypes had been consigned to Mercedes’ personal traditional assortment, the place the second prototype will stay. One of many circumstances of the sale is that the automobile “will stay accessible for public show and particular events,” Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, stated in an announcement. So the now-privately owned Uhlenhaut coupe may really see the sunshine of day extra usually than it did whereas owned by Mercedes.

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