A couple of days in the past, we confirmed our preliminary rumored story about Mercedes-Benz promoting considered one of their treasured museum toys, the 1 of two Mercedes-Benz SLR 300 Uhlenhaut Coupe. The automotive was bought by means of a non-public public sale by RM Sothebys, the profitable bid was gained by Simon Kidston, a excessive finish automotive dealer based mostly in Switzerland. No additional particulars relating to the tip purchaser have been launched.
However we now have now obtained a recent set of rumors relating to this secret purchaser, in line with our supply the automotive was purchased by Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe the British billionaire largely recognized for chemical firm Ineos. He’s among the many most richest folks in Britain with a web price of greater than $28 billion.
Mr. Ratcliffe just isn’t new vehicles, he has his personal automotive firm which goals to provide a continuation of the unique Land Rover Defender vehicles. The brand new automotive is known as Ineos Granadier and is powered by BMW engines, the tooling device was purchased from Land Rover.
Maybe essentially the most suggestive clue relating to his buy of the SLR 300 Coupe is the truth that he holds a really shut relationship with Mercedes-Benz. He owns a 1/third of the Mercedes-Benz F1 Staff and his firm Ineos purchased the Sensible manufacturing unit in Hambach, France from Daimler in 2020. That manufacturing unit will produce the Granadier vehicles.
A part of the phrases of buy agreed upon between him and Mercedes-Benz state that he has to avail the SLR 300 Coupe at numerous exhibits when wanted. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes have been two vehicles constructed from the 9 rolling chassis of the 300 SLR race vehicles. They have been named after their designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut.
One Uhlenhaut Coupe is saved considered one of Mercedes-Benz’s eleven automotive vaults whereas the opposite is publicly displayed on the Mercedes-Benz Museum. We suspect the previous is the automotive that was concerned on this explicit sale.
Why Did Mercedes-Benz Promote this Museum Piece?
It’s nonetheless unclear why Mercedes-Benz would conform to a sale involving an especially uncommon piece of historical past, however we now have a couple of theories. In fact there was an official rationalization stating that they did so to be able to fund younger students in issues regarding local weather change. Mercedes-Benz just isn’t in need of money and so they fund quite a few causes around the globe, they might have created the identical scholarship fund with out proceeds from a historic automotive sale. Whereas the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe might not be the Monalisa of vehicles, it positive does come near being one. So then, why promote it?
1. Mercedes and Ratcliffe have one thing larger going and the 300 SLR Coupe was only a bargaining chip
With the stakes that Ratcliffe holds at Mercedes-Benz F1, there may very well be extra offers occurring within the background and the 300 SLR Coupe was only a means to a rating for each events.
2. Mercedes-Benz desires the next standing
Mercedes-Benz simply introduced that they are going to be cutting down on cheaper fashions, they wish to maximize income by promoting fewer larger finish fashions or quite costly vehicles. Mannequin traces just like the A and B courses shall be trimmed all the way down to the naked needed, maybe AMG fashions solely. Whereas this sounds drastic, it can elevate their standing within the automotive market.
Mercedes-Benz has watched Ferrari’s valuation of each race and highway vehicles soar 12 months by 12 months. The Ferrari 250 GTO has damaged quite a few gross sales data, with one promoting for as much as $80 million. By smashing Ferrari’s data with one main sale, Mercedes-Benz is setting a precedent for his or her future unique vehicles. It’s a really lengthy, lengthy recreation, however they don’t have anything however time.
3. That is only the start
The world is altering and the local weather change agenda is now greater than ever getting used as a gross sales and advertising device by many automotive makers. Clients are being swayed away by automotive makers who present essentially the most concern in regards to the setting. Despite the fact that the adoption of electrical vehicles is but to be absolutely applied the world over as a result of numerous challenges like infrastructure, it’s the thought that counts.
Funding environmental causes and killing off massive combustion engines one after the other is an efficient approach to present assist alongside everybody combating local weather change. Promoting off costly ICE powered vehicles for non revenue means and funding environmental research, that is the grandest gesture. If that’s the case, we should always count on extra gross sales of comparable heritage autos by Mercedes-Benz.
