In a secret auction in the brand museum in Germany, Mercedes-Benz broke the record for the sale of the most expensive car in the world. During this auction, the famous car brand sold one of the two Coupés 300 SLR UHLENHAUT of 1955 of its extensive collection of historical cars, which dates back to the early days of the car at the end of the 19th century. The sale, to a private buyer, was 135 million euros ($ 142,769,250 dollars). Far exceeded the previous record for sale of a Ferrari 250 Gto of 1962, of $ 48.4 million, at a 2018 auction, to become the most expensive car in the world that has never been sold at an auction. Both high -value sales were intermediate by RM Sotheby's.
«Although Ferrari is the most likely brand to have built a 100 million dollar car, Mercedes-Benz was the following most likely candidate«said Brian Rabold, the vice president of Hagerty Automotive Intelligence, the valuation wing of the classic car insurance giant, lifestyle and editorial, Hagerty.
Both Coupés 300 SLR UHLENHAUT homologated for the street were created by the Mercedes-Benz racing director of the time, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who built them as part of an assault on motoring. Despite being one of the fastest cars in the world at that timethey never came to compete because the brand retired from the races in 1955 after a disastrous accident in the LE Mans resistance race that caused injuries to hundreds of spectators and the death of more than 80 people, including the Mercedes pilot.
Although they keep a great resemblance to the famous sports gullwing of the 50s, the two Coupés from Uhlenhaut They had a much more aggressive style and mechanicand in reality they were built on a chassis that served as the basis for the brand W196 track car.
«Mercedes-Benz racing cars of the 30s and 50s are rare, and most remain the factory, so Those who go on the market are very coveted«Rabold said. The Bonhams auction house established in 2013 a record price for the brand, selling a Mercedes-Benz W196 of 1954 at $ 29.6 million dollars. Since then, according to Rabold, the index of the Price Guide Hagerty of First-category collection cars has experienced an amazing revaluation of 60%.