“Only a automotive” on this context is clearly deceptive. The automotive is the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut coupé, proper up there among the many Three-Pointed Star’s “crown jewels” and a machine so uncommon and treasured it was thought Mercedes would by no means promote it. They have been joyful to let the gorgeous 180mph gullwing coupe out to play although, which they did admirably typically, together with on the Goodwood Competition of Pace in 2013 and 2015.
The £116m automotive is one in all two prototypes developed by Merc’s racing chief Rudi Uhlenhaut and primarily based on the W196 grand prix automotive with which Fangio received two world championships. A fairly good start line then. The intention was for it to compete in street races just like the Carrera PanAmericana, however within the wake of the 1955 Le Mans catastrophe, and Mercedes’ subsequent withdrawal from top-class sport, neither automotive ever raced. As a substitute, the automotive you see right here took on a brand new position – as Uhlenhaut’s firm automotive.
Mercedes’ determination to promote it surprised the collector-car world. “It’s affordable to say that no person ever imagined that this automotive would ever be supplied on the market,” mentioned Peter Wallman, UK chairman of RM Sotheby’s which was charged with discovering a brand new proprietor for it in Might this 12 months. The public sale was an invite-only affair held within the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart the place the particular SLR has been a the prize exhibit for many years.
It’s reported that the profitable bid was made by British supplier Simon Kidston on behalf of an unnamed consumer – who has apparently promised that the fantastic machine will stay accessible for public show (and demo drives, we sincerely hope).
By a large £77m margin, it’s now the most costly automotive ever bought at a public public sale; in reality, it’s among the many prime 10 costliest gadgets of any sort ever bought at public sale. What is going to Merc do with the cash? That’s getting used to create a fund for environmental scholarships. And what is going to Mercedes show within the museum as an alternative? No worries there, they’ve obtained the opposite one!
All in all 2022 was an eventful public sale 12 months and a large end in explicit for RM Sotheby’s. Listed here are the opposite 9 top-priced stars, in ascending order, and what they bought for (costs embrace premium and are transformed to £ at at the moment’s fee)…