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There are expensive classic cars and then there's the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe. As you probably heard by now, this very special ride has been sold this year in an auction for a record price of 135 million Euros to a private collector, becoming the most expensive car ever sold. Not many were surprised by such an occurrence, as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was always seen as a rare achievement in the automotive industry. However, we were a little shocked that the brand decided to sell one of the two models produced in the first place.
It all made perfect sense when we heard the goal, though. Mercedes-Benz went on the auction with 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe to benefit a good cause and fund a global scholarship program. The money from the auction will go to young generations eager to come up with and develop new, innovative technologies, just like Rudolf Uhlenhaut did when making the famous Coupe. Now that we mentioned it, how much do you know about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe?
If you're not quite acquainted with the story behind one of the finest examples of automotive engineering and design, now is the time to mend this. Follow our review, and you'll learn a lot of intriguing details about the most expensive car in the world — the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe: The Making Of One Of The Most Iconic Sports Cars In The World
Rudolf Uhlenhaut, a British-German engineer, created the 300 SLR Coupe in 1955, pushing the boundaries of at-the-time limited technical possibilities. As a man behind the development of the 300 SL and the W 196 R "Silver Arrows," he knew very well what the new Coupe should look like to continue the Mercedes-Benz's racing success. Therefore, Uhlenhaut made this new car lightweight, powerful, and easy on the eye.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was always pure elegance in terms of aesthetics, but there's much more to it than meets the eye. Uhlenhaut didn't only want to make an appealing ride — he wanted to create a performer ready to make a difference in the automotive world. As you know already, Uhlenhaut did more than an amazing job.
Constructed around a powerful center, the engine that pushes power through the eight light-alloy cylinders with chrome-plated barrels, the Coupe is a Formula 1-inspired and worthy performer. With a closed top to enhance the aerodynamics (compared to open-top competitors), 306 horsepower, 233 lb-ft of torque, and other similarly impressive specs, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe has stunned the public since its introduction.
How The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe Had An Unfortunate Destiny
As mentioned, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was built with the racing purpose in mind in the first place, carefully engineered to be extremely light and quick on the track. Unfortunately, it never hit the track in real life and remained only an admirable prototype, though not by its own fault.
Mercedes-Benz was very successful in motorsport and gained more than one trophy over the years. Sadly, the '50s tragically changed this when the 1955 Le Mans horror crash occurred. Piere Levegh, Mercedes' driver, bounced off the track into the pit and caused an accident that killed 82 people and injured more than 100. Mercedes-Benz retired from the races afterward all up to 1989. This was a dark period in the automotive industry that we'll always remember, and we can't begin to fathom how the Mercedes-Benz racing team got through it.
The good thing is that the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was not doomed to a sedentary life. Uhlenhaut drove the car daily, and some sources say he commuted from Stuttgart and Munich in a record-breaking time of an hour. However, it may be, the Coupe was not left in the shadow, and the world recognized its importance and beauty from the beginning.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe Remains An Unreachable Legend Today
Over the years, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe reached classic status for many reasons, starting with its impressive styling, engineering, and performance. That's why we thought the brand would never sell it. Still, the auction took place this year and showed us just how special the world thinks the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is.
After a private collector cashed out 135 million Euros for the iconic Coupe, there's just no more doubt about its status in gear heads' hearts. Now, out of two total units, one car will remain on the brand's premises and be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The other one will stay in private ownership, though the collector agreed to take it out for public display on special occasions.