A Mercedes 300 SLR sold for 135 million Euros!

This Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, one of two created in 1955, has always been considered one of the greatest gems in automotive history, but few imagined that it would one day be offered for sale. The car is named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and is an avant-garde marvel of engineering, often cited as "the most beautiful car in the world."

Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé © RM Sotheby's

Derived from the W 196 R Grand Prix car that won two world championships in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio, its engine displacement was increased to 3,0 liters for sports car racing. Capable of flirting with 290 km/h, it was the fastest road-legal car of the time.

Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé © RM Sotheby's

The accident of 24 Hours of Le Mans 1955 putting an end to Mercedes' sporting activities, this car will never take to the track and will see its production limited to these 2 examples, one of which remains the property of the brand.

Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé © RM Sotheby's

The sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé took place on May 5 during a very confidential auction organized at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Auction house RM Sotheby's worked closely with Mercedes-Benz throughout the process. Guests included hand-picked Mercedes customers and some of the world's leading car and art collectors.

Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé © RM Sotheby's

The winning bid of €135 makes it the absolute world record for a car sold at auction. In a surreal atmosphere, the auction opened at €000, already a long way from the dizzying sale price of the Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962 sold by RM Sotheby's in 2018 for €48, which was the record until then. The 400 SLR is now in the top 000 worldwide at auctions, all categories combined. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support a global “Mercedes-Benz Fund” dedicated to providing scholarships and research in the areas of environmental science and decarbonization.