Mercedes confirms $200 million sale of 300 SLR 'Uhlenhaut Coupé'

UPDATE, May 20, 2022: Mercedes confirms $200 million sale of 300 SLR 'Uhlenhaut Coupé'

It's official – the bar for the world's most expensive car has been reset, now resting at more than AU$200 million.

After reports emerged last week of a one-of-two 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé selling at a private auction for €135 million (AU$203m), with Mercedes confirming the sale overnight.

While the private collector remains anonymous, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer announced it would establish the “Mercedes‑Benz Fund” with proceeds from the sale, aiming to "provide educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonisation for young people."

10

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said the scholarship fund would allow more people from around the world to follow in the footsteps of the car's creator, Rudolf Uhlenhaut.

“The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand," said Källenius.

"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."

10

The Mercedes-Benz Fund will be divided into two sub-categories: one for university scholarships, which will focus on environmental science, and the other for schools – dedicated to pupils realising local environment projects in their communities.

Mercedes-Benz has already committed to going fully-electric by 2030 in most major markets, although links to its heritage will remain as it also confirmed the 300 SLR sold will be available for public viewing on special occasions, while its twin continues to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

The story to here

10

May 13, 2022: Mercedes 300 SLR 'Uhlenhaut Coupé' reportedly becomes world's most expensive car

The record for the most expensive car to have ever been sold has reportedly been broken with a super-rare, one-of-two 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR allegedly now holding the title.

As reported by Hagerty Insider, a private auction event at Mercedes-Benz's Stuttgart museum for keen collectors ended in the Uhlenhaut Coupé selling for an eye-watering €135 million (AU$203m).

While the reports are currently unverified, if it turns out to be true this would reset the bar by a hefty margin, with the current official record held by a Ferrari 250 GTO, sold at Monterey Car Week in 2018 for $66m.

10

Just two of the Rudolf Uhlenhaut-designed 300 SLR Coupés were built in 1955 as a hybrid between the dominant 300 SLR racer and the 300 SL 'Gullwing' road car, powered by a 3.0-litre straight-eight engine which was strong enough to push out 222kW.

According to Hagerty, the auction was held as a private event for select collectors at its museum in Stuttgart, forcing the temporary closure of the facility.

The last Mercedes-Benz to hold an auction record was a 1954 W196, previously raced to victory by Juan Manuel Fangio and having been uncovered in 2013, selling at that year's Goodwood Festival of Speed for AU$43m in today's money.