300 SLR was based on the W 196 R Grand Prix car, which won two world championships with driver Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel. The W 196 R also features a more powerful 3.0 liter engine for sports racing. At the time, the sports car was the fastest cars In the world with a top speed of 180 mph.
The vintage 300 SLR was sold by Canadian classic car auction company RM Sotheby’s on May 5 at the Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart Museum. It has been announced that from the proceeds of the auction, a ‘Mercedes-Benz Fund’ will be established, which will provide educational and research scholarships for youth in the areas of environmental science and decarbonisation.
Image credit: www.rmsothebys.com | 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (1 of 2)
“We are proud to be able to contribute with our historical collection to this initiative connecting the past with the future of engineering and decarbonization technology,” says Marcus Breitschward, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage. “The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhout Coupe will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupe will remain company owned and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.”