CONFIRMED! Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe sold for record $142 million
UPDATE, May 19: This rumor has now been confirmed by RM Sotheby’s and Mercedes. However, it remains a developing story that includes informed speculation—exact details may prove inaccurate.
Reset the search engines and reset your memory – the record for the most expensive car ever sold is believed to have been smashed, without a Ferrari in sight.
Mercedes-Benz, working with RM Sotheby’s, has sold one of its treasured Silver Arrow racing cars for 135 million euros (£115 million; $142m). The proceeds will go to a new Mercedes charity that will, according to a press release, “provide educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonization for young people.”
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The allure of one of the German marque’s most significant racing cars has powered nearly three times the value of the Ferrari 250 GTO that sold at Monterey in 2018, and more than twice the rumored $80M (£65m) paid for another GTO private sale in 2018.
RM Sotheby’s, on behalf of Mercedes-Benz, presented around 10 (possibly fewer) carefully selected car collectors who were not only wealthy enough to bid but would satisfy the strict criteria laid down by the German car manufacturer. The company wanted to ensure that any custodian of the Silver Arrows racing car would lavish it with the same care and attention as Mercedes, as well as continue to share the car at events and not sell it on to a third party.
Potential buyers are believed to have been hosted over lunch at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, with key collectors flying in on private jets on May 5. The grand venue was closed that day for “an event,” of which RM has now released snippets.
For the full story and the latest updates, head over to Hagerty Insider.
