Yahoo Autos 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR sells for a record $143 million
A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupé" has smashed the record for most expensive car sold at auction. The winning bid of $143 million eclipses the price of the previous record holder, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that was sold in 2018 at Monterey Car Week for $48.4 million. The price was even twice as high as the private sale of another 250 GTO, which was thought to be the most expensive, period. A confluence of factors helped achieve the stratospheric price, including its tragic backstory in the history's worst racing accident.
Despite its name and doors, the car has very little to do with the 300 SL gull-wings that stand as one of the brand's most iconic models. Under the skin, it's closer to a Mercedes W196, last in a line of Silver Arrow race cars that dates back to 1934. The W196 competed in the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 seasons and won both championships. And one example set an auction record years ago, before being eclipsed by others, including the aforementioned Ferrari.
After its success in its inaugural year, the W196 was adapted into a single-seat, open-top 300 SLR to compete in the 1955 World Sportscar Championship. The series included legendary races like the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, both of which the Mercedes won with icons of motorsport like Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel.
That alone would have made the 300 SLR a highly desirable collector's car, but it's impossible to ignore the dark side of its history as well. At the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 300 SLR driven by Frenchman Pierre Levegh crashed violently with another car, catapulting it into the grandstands. At the time, Circuit de la Sarthe lacked the modern safety precautions modern tracks are built with, and fans were separated from the track by nothing but a low dirt wall.
The car tumbled end over end for several meters, disintegrating as it sent parts flying through the crowd. Heavy components like the engine block and front suspension mowed down spectators. The back half burst into flames and the fire quickly spread to body panels made of lightweight (300 SLR stood for 3.0-liter Sport Leicht Rennen or "Sport Light Racing" in German) but highly flammable magnesium alloy. In total 84 people perished, including Levegh, who died when he was thrown onto the pavement. Another 180 sustained injuries.
