The most expensive vehicle in the world was just sold to a private owner for €135 million – equal to $142 million. The luxury auto manufacturer’s collection has preserved the unique 1955 Mercedes-Benz SLR coupe and is now officially sold, confirmed Mercedes on Thursday.
As per reports from Hagerty, a firm that keeps tabs on collector car values, the price hails it as the most expensive car known ever to be sold.
The sale of this particular car has launched a special scholarship fund organized by Mercedes-Benz for students all around the world.
An incredible $70 million was paid for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO in 2018, making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction – that was before Mercedes took over.
The sold Mercedes vehicle was among the only two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe models. The cars, 67 years old, were named after Mercedes’ then-chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and are said to have the highest speed of 186 mph.
The highly anticipated auction of the famous model took place at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on May 5 and was organized in partnership with auto auction company RM Sotheby’s.
According to Mercedes, the last of the Uhlenhaut Coupes is set for preservation in the museum.
“Their racing cars from the 1930s and 1950s are rare, and most are still owned by the factory, so any that come to market are highly sought after,” stated vice president of automotive intelligence at Hagerty, Brian Rabold.
Models from Mercedes, such as the “Gullwing” SLRs – dubbed due to their doors that hang in the air like curved wings – are deemed to be one of the most desirable vehicles in the world. And several varieties of unique and racing versions are particularly valuable.
The SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was a hard-top version of Mercedes’ highly-coveted open-topped SLR racing car, powered by a 300-horsepower eight-cylinder engine. The deliberation was that a closed car would protect drivers better from wind and weather at top speeds, and the closed roof would also upgrade aerodynamics.
Mercedes pulled the plug on its motorsports program shortly after creating these vehicles, so they’ve never been used in competition.
Even though the company didn’t identify the car’s new owner, British classic car dealer Simon Kidston said in a press release to have put a winning bid at the behest of a customer.
