Mercedes-Benz crashes record for most expensive car sold at $142M

These wheels of fortune are turning in Mercedes-Benz’s favor.

The German automotive model verified that it has bought a luxurious motor vehicle for a thoughts-boggling $142 million (135 million EUR), shattering the former history for the most pricey motor vehicle at any time offered.

“We [wanted], with one particular one act, to display the power of the Mercedes brand name,” reported their chairman, Ola Källenius, in a assertion adhering to the closed invitation auction on May well 5 at the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart, BNN Bloomberg claimed. The event was held in collaboration with vehicle auction company RM Sotheby’s.

The vehicle in dilemma was an ultra-exceptional 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, just one of only two at any time manufactured. Mercedes has not divulged the buyer’s identity nonetheless, the auction reportedly highlighted close to a dozen bidders with numerous Swiss-Italian, English and US Mercedes-Benz collectors staying floated as probable purchasers.

With the sale, the car or truck organization topped — just about a few periods above — the former community history of $70 million, shelled out in 2018 for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. Proceeds from the sale will reportedly go towards developing the Mercedes-Benz Fund, a world-wide scholarship fund aimed at helping hard cash-strapped pupils reach their vocation desires, for every a Mercedes push launch.

The value may well appear to be steep, but vehicle aficionados claim that the figure is acceptable presented the caliber of the motor vehicle, which can travel up to 186 mph.

“That auto is 100% worth what it bought for,” said unusual automobile broker Stephen Serio. “Nobody at any time imagined Mercedes would market it.”

Indeed, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR’s price is owing, in element, to the actuality that the car or truck is exceedingly uncommon. Of the nine 300 SLR cars produced, there have been only two SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé prototypes, which derive their title from Mercedes’ famed take a look at section head, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, in accordance to BNN Bloomberg’s report. He made use of a single of the types as the business automobile, while the second haute rod is saved securely absent in the company vault.

“Their racing autos from the 1930s and 1950s are rare, and most are nonetheless owned by the manufacturing facility, so any that appear to sector are hugely sought just after,” Hagerty’s Brian Rabold advised CNN.

The good thing is, the modern acquire does not preclude again seat car or truck buffs from ever seeing this automotive holy grail all over again. For each the ailments of the sale, the Uhlenhaut will keep on exhibit at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, together with the second SLR coupe, even though the anonymous owner will get the option to from time to time — and very cautiously — just take their classic whip for a spin.