Most expensive car in the world: Mercedes auctioned for 135 million euros

Created: 05/20/2022, 10:22 am

By: Sebastian Oppenheimer

The Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé was only built twice, now it was auctioned for 135 million euros - making it the most valuable car in the world.

Update from May 20, 2022, 10:22 a.m .:

At first it was a sensational rumor – now the sale has been officially confirmed: Mercedes has auctioned off one of only two Uhlenhaut coupés ever built from its collection.

A private collector was willing to put a sum of 135 million euros on the table for the extremely rare vehicle.

This makes the Uhlenhaut coupé by far the most valuable car in the world.

Apparently, however, the buyer had to agree to a condition of the car manufacturer.

Most expensive car in the world: Mercedes auctioned for 135 million euros

The Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé was auctioned off on May 5, 2022 at a secret auction in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

According to the manufacturer, “selected Mercedes-Benz customers and international car and art collectors who share the corporate values ​​of Mercedes-Benz” were invited.

The Uhlenhaut Coupé that was sold was part of the non-public vehicle collection of the Stuttgart car manufacturer, which comprises a total of more than 1,100 vehicles.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé with its inventor Rudolf Uhlenhaut.

© Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Mercedes Uhlenhaut Coupé auctioned for 135 million euros – only under one condition?

However, car fans need not worry that they will never see an Uhlenhaut Coupé again.

On the one hand, the second existing prototype remains in the possession of Mercedes.

And on the other hand, Mercedes apparently only sold the vehicle to the buyer on one condition: it will also be made accessible to the public after the sale on special occasions.

The proceeds from the auction of the rare vehicle will be used as seed capital for the global Mercedes-Benz Fund initiative.

On the one hand, the money is intended to support students with university scholarships.

According to the manufacturer, the aim is to network them, to educate them and to encourage them to do environmental research and projects.

In addition, students are supported with school scholarships in the implementation of environmental projects.

The funds are intended for people who otherwise do not have sufficient financial resources to carry out such projects and pursue corresponding career paths.

First report from May 14, 2022, 10:04 a.m .:

Stuttgart – There are cars that are priced out of reach for normal earners.

For example, new cars from the luxury manufacturers Bugatti, Pagani or Lamborghini can sometimes cost several million euros.

Sometimes, however, it is above all the history of the car that causes the price to skyrocket at auction - such as with this Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 from the cult film "Bad Boys".

Prominent previous owners can also multiply sales prices, such as a sports car owned by football legend Diego Maradona (60, † 2020).

The previous price record holder is a rare classic car: in 2018, a Ferrari 250 GTO was auctioned for around 48.5 million euros.

But now an extremely rare Mercedes is said to have been sold for 135 million euros.

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A Mercedes 300 SLR Coupé – also known as the “Uhlenhaut Coupé” – was allegedly auctioned off for 135 million euros.

© Mercedes-Benz Group

Most expensive car in the world: Mercedes is said to have been sold at a secret auction

According to a report by the industry portal "Hagerty", the vehicle sold is a Mercedes 300 SLR Coupé - also known as the "Uhlenhaut Coupé".

The sale allegedly took place on May 6th at a secret auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

The approximately ten interested parties are said to have flown in with private jets.

The portal refers to several sources in its report – but emphasizes that these are “rumours”.

When asked by the portal, the carmaker did not want to comment on the rumors.

Incidentally, not only cars fetch extreme prices at auctions – a license plate was recently auctioned in Dubai for 8.9 million euros.

You can find even more exciting car topics in the free newsletter from 24auto.de, which you can subscribe to right here.

Most expensive car in the world: Only two examples of the "Uhlenhaut Coupé" were built

The so-called "Uhlenhaut Coupé" was designed in 1955 by Rudolf Uhlenhaut (82, † 1989) based on the Mercedes 300 SLR.

The gullwing doors of the Mercedes-Benz W 198 presented a year earlier are used in the vehicle.

The plan was to use the coupé in long-distance races, but this did not happen because the company withdrew from racing in 1955.

Most expensive car in the world: The Mecedes 300 SLR Coupé was once the fastest road-legal vehicle

Only two "Uhlenhaut coupés" were built - they differ only in details.

For example in the color of the interior and details on the radiator grille.

With an engine output of 222 kW (302 hp), the Mercedes 300 SLR Coupé reached a top speed of 290 km/h - this made the "Uhlenhaut Coupé" the fastest road-legal vehicle at the time.

According to Hagerty, the buyer may be a “well-known personality from the British automotive industry”.