Vintage Mercedes Fetches ₹1,100 crore in Auction

A 1955 Mercedes-Benz was auctioned for $143 million (about Rs 1,100 crore), making it the most expensive car ever sold. CNBC reported that RM Sotheby's in Canada revealed earlier this month that it had sold a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe for 135 million euros, or roughly $143 million. The deal shattered the previous record for the most expensive car sold at auction by more than $95 million and surpassed the previous record for a car sold privately by more than $70 million.

Simon Kidston, a British vehicle collector, advisor, and dealer, placed the winning offer on behalf of an anonymous client. According to the report, Kidston persuaded the Mercedes-Benz board for 18 months to explore selling the car.  The auction, which was originally reported by Hagerty Insider, took place on May 5 at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, in a private and highly unique auction. Only a small number of collectors and Mercedes-Benz customers were invited.

The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was one of only two built-in 1955 and is considered one of the most valuable automobiles ever made. It was created by Mercedes' race department and named for Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the company's chief engineer and designer.

The car was based on the W 196 R Grand Prix car, which won two World Championships with Juan Manuel Fangio as the driver. The 300 SLR had a 3.0-liter engine and could achieve 180 mph, making it one of the quickest street-legal automobiles.