sold Mercedes Benz companyRecently, the most expensive car in the world. The rare car was made in 1955 from the Mercedes-Benz SLR Coupe, which was bought by an unknown person for 135 million euros, equivalent to 142 million dollars.
That price makes it the most expensive car ever sold, according to Hagerty, which tracks collectors of rare cars.
Mercedes said the proceeds from the sale will be used to establish the Mercedes-Benz Fund, a global scholarship fund.
This comes while the previous record for the most expensive car in the world was at $70 million, which was paid in 2018 for the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT, according to CNN, which was seen by Al Arabiya.net.
The Mercedes that was sold was one of only two models, the “300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe”, named after Mercedes’ chief engineer at the time, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and allegedly had a top speed of 186 mph.
The car was sold at a closed, invitation-only auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on May 5, held in association with RM Sotheby’s.
The other Uhlenhaut Coupe will remain in the museum’s collection, according to a statement from the company.
“Their racing cars from the 1930s and 1950s are rare, and most are still factory owned, so any car that is brought to market is in great demand,” said Brian Rabould, vice president of automotive intelligence at Hagerty.
The most expensive car in the world
Mercedes’ Gullwing SLRs – so named because of the doors that rise like curved wings – are some of the most desirable in the world.
The SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was, in essence, a modified version of Mercedes’ popular open-topped SLR racing car, powered by a 300-horsepower eight-cylinder engine. The idea was to build a closed car to better protect the driver from wind and weather at high speeds, while the closed roof would also improve aerodynamics.
Shortly after the development of these cars, Mercedes discontinued its participation in motorsports, so the car was not used in competition.
While the identity of the new owner of the car remains unknown, British classic car dealer Simon Kidston claimed in a press release that he submitted the winning bid on behalf of a customer.