Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Sells For 135 Million Euros & Becomes World’s Most Expensive Car

Records have been broken with a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé selling for 135 million Euros becoming the world’s most expensive car. Going into the hands of a private collector the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut is iconic and incredibly rare with only two prototypes built. Named after the creator and chief engineer, the car is considered to be one of the finest pieces of automotive engineering of all time.

The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé represents a milestone in sports car design and development and hugely important to Mercedes-Benz, so the decision to sell one of them is quite a surprise. The decision to do so is to use the proceeds from the sale to establish the “Mercedes‑Benz Fund” that will provide educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonisation for young people.

“The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand. 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,” says Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling: A Mercedes-Benz is by far the most valuable car in the world.”

“As a global company and as a luxury brand we bear a great level of responsibility towards society,” says Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity and Legal Affairs, who is responsible for the governance of the “Mercedes-Benz Fund“. “The proceeds from the sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our commitment with a long-term flagship project: We will establish the global scholarship programme “Mercedes-Benz Fund” supporting young people in their studies, commitment and actions towards a more sustainable future. We are convinced that access to education in these areas will be crucial in encountering the great challenges of our time and contribute to greater stability, prosperity and social cohesion.”

The 300 SLR is going to provide the seed capital of the new global initiative and Mercedes-Benz has committed to adding further resources over the coming years.

History And Auction Of The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

The sale took place on the 5th of May 2022 at a special auction held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in co-operation with auctioneer RM Sotheby’s. Select people were invited to attend, Mercedes customers, car and art collectors and others who were likely to offer the SLR a suitable home. The auction was not open to the public but still drew the record price.

“We are proud that we can contribute with our historical collection to this initiative connecting the past with the future of engineering and decarbonisation technology”, says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes‑Benz Heritage. “The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupé remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.“

The circumstances behind the creation of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, its unique design and innovative technology are something of a mystery but has kept people interested in the car to this day. The new benchmarks set by the car make it one of the most significant of all automotive icons, the distinctive gullwing doors being one of them.
The performance for the time was outstanding, the car being based on the latest racing technology available.

Something thought of as automotive mythology has now found it way into the hands of a Mercedes fan.