See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (2024)

Table of Contents
An extremely rare, 67-year-old Mercedes-Benz just sold for a whopping $142 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is a prototype race car built for the 1956 season. It obliterated the previous record for the priciest car ever auctioned off by around $95 million. The previous record holder was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for around $48 million in 2018, according to auction house RM Sotheby's, which was involved in both sales. The coupe also ranks in the top 10 most expensive items ever sold at auction, RM Sotheby's said. Mercedes-Benz sold the 300 SLR during an invite-only auction on May 5 at its museum in Stuttgart, Germany. It sold to classic-car dealer Simon Kidston, who placed the winning bid on behalf of an anonymous buyer. In part, the 300 SLR is so valuable because Mercedes built just two of them. To be fair, it's also gorgeous. The coupe was never raced, and instead was used by Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the head of Mercedes's testing department, as a company car. The eight-cylinder race car was rated at roughly 300 horsepower. It had a top speed of 180 mph, making it one of the fastest road-legal vehicles of its time, according to RM Sotheby's. The 300 SLR Coupe was developed as a hardtop version of Mercedes's successful open-top 300 SLR race car. Both SLR Coupes have been in Mercedes-Benz's private collection since new. The one sold — nicknamed "Red" for its red interior — only shows a little over 6,000 kilometers on the odometer. Its sibling, "Blue," will remain on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The 300 SLR isn't to be confused with the Mercedes 300 SL, another highly collectible 1950s Mercedes that's only worth a measly $1 million. Why would Mercedes-Benz part with such a valuable car and such an iconic piece of its history? It was sold for a good cause. Mercedes says it will use the proceeds from the sale to set up a scholarship fund to support education and research into environmental science and decarbonization. Read next

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (1)

  • An ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz just sold for $142 million at an invite-only auction.
  • The 1955 race car is by far the most expensive car ever auctioned off.
  • It's also one of the most valuable items ever sold at auction, according to RM Sotheby's.

Advertisem*nt

An extremely rare, 67-year-old Mercedes-Benz just sold for a whopping $142 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (2)

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is a prototype race car built for the 1956 season.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (3)

It obliterated the previous record for the priciest car ever auctioned off by around $95 million.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (4)

The previous record holder was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for around $48 million in 2018, according to auction house RM Sotheby's, which was involved in both sales.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (5)

Advertisem*nt

The coupe also ranks in the top 10 most expensive items ever sold at auction, RM Sotheby's said.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (6)

Mercedes-Benz sold the 300 SLR during an invite-only auction on May 5 at its museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (7)

Advertisem*nt

It sold to classic-car dealer Simon Kidston, who placed the winning bid on behalf of an anonymous buyer.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (8)

In part, the 300 SLR is so valuable because Mercedes built just two of them.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (9)

To be fair, it's also gorgeous.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (10)

The coupe was never raced, and instead was used by Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the head of Mercedes's testing department, as a company car.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (11)

Advertisem*nt

The eight-cylinder race car was rated at roughly 300 horsepower.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (12)

It had a top speed of 180 mph, making it one of the fastest road-legal vehicles of its time, according to RM Sotheby's.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (13)

Advertisem*nt

The 300 SLR Coupe was developed as a hardtop version of Mercedes's successful open-top 300 SLR race car.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (14)

Both SLR Coupes have been in Mercedes-Benz's private collection since new.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (15)

Advertisem*nt

The one sold — nicknamed "Red" for its red interior — only shows a little over 6,000 kilometers on the odometer.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (16)

Its sibling, "Blue," will remain on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (17)

Advertisem*nt

The 300 SLR isn't to be confused with the Mercedes 300 SL, another highly collectible 1950s Mercedes that's only worth a measly $1 million.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (18)

Why would Mercedes-Benz part with such a valuable car and such an iconic piece of its history?

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (19)

Advertisem*nt

It was sold for a good cause.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (20)

Mercedes says it will use the proceeds from the sale to set up a scholarship fund to support education and research into environmental science and decarbonization.

See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (21)

Read next

Transportation Auto Industry

Advertisem*nt
See the $142 million Mercedes that just became the most expensive car ever sold (2024)
Top Articles
Request a Domestic Wire Transfer
What Makes A Great Founder | Antler
Where To Go After Howling Pit Code Vein
No Hard Feelings (2023) Tickets & Showtimes
Algebra Calculator Mathway
Soap2Day Autoplay
Txtvrfy Sheridan Wy
Clafi Arab
What's New on Hulu in October 2023
Publix 147 Coral Way
Weather In Moon Township 10 Days
Pollen Count Los Altos
Orlando Arrest and Public Records | Florida.StateRecords.org
Pwc Transparency Report
180 Best Persuasive Essay Topics Ideas For Students in 2024
Games Like Mythic Manor
Enterprise Car Sales Jacksonville Used Cars
Plan Z - Nazi Shipbuilding Plans
Forum Phun Extra
Kayky Fifa 22 Potential
Mc Donald's Bruck - Fast-Food-Restaurant
Wbiw Weather Watchers
Elite Dangerous How To Scan Nav Beacon
Hrconnect Kp Login
Uky Linkblue Login
Colin Donnell Lpsg
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for sale - Houston, TX - craigslist
Makemkv Key April 2023
Mgm Virtual Roster Login
School Tool / School Tool Parent Portal
Nancy Pazelt Obituary
PruittHealth hiring Certified Nursing Assistant - Third Shift in Augusta, GA | LinkedIn
Craigslist En Brownsville Texas
St Anthony Hospital Crown Point Visiting Hours
Conan Exiles Armor Flexibility Kit
Expendables 4 Showtimes Near Malco Tupelo Commons Cinema Grill
2013 Honda Odyssey Serpentine Belt Diagram
Big Reactors Best Coolant
How To Customise Mii QR Codes in Tomodachi Life?
Autozone Battery Hold Down
Go Nutrients Intestinal Edge Reviews
VerTRIO Comfort MHR 1800 - 3 Standen Elektrische Kachel - Hoog Capaciteit Carbon... | bol
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Paradise leaked: An analysis of offshore data leaks
Used Auto Parts in Houston 77013 | LKQ Pick Your Part
Spongebob Meme Pic
Myhrkohls.con
Grace Charis Shagmag
Costco Gas Price Fort Lauderdale
Cognitive Function Test Potomac Falls
Latest Posts
Promotional Budget Methods: Planning Your Marketing Spend Effectively
Check real-time data in the Yahoo Finance mobile app | Yahoo Help - SLN29023
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6608

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.