This car is not gold-plated or adorned with diamonds, yet it was sold for a record price.
In May 2022, a new record for the most expensive car ever sold was set. The luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz sold the original 1955 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, dubbed the “Mona Lisa of automobiles”, for a staggering 142 million USD (over 3.6 trillion VND) due to its rarity and historical significance.
This price is the highest ever achieved at auction for a car, nearly three times higher than the previous record set by the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which sold for 48.4 million USD (approximately 1.232 trillion VND) in 2018.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.
The “Mona Lisa” of the Automotive World
The car was sold to a private collector in a secret auction organized by RM Sotheby’s and Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart, Germany.
In addition to its stunning appearance and unmatched power, this car is valuable due to its rarity. It is one of only two remaining 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés, named after Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the German engineer who built the prototype in 1955. It has long been regarded as the “most beautiful car in the world.”
This car has long been regarded as the “most beautiful car in the world.”
Mercedes-Benz was the sole previous owner of the car, keeping it in one of the company’s storage facilities, while the other was used as Uhlenhaut’s personal vehicle.
After the auction, the company announced that the proceeds would be used to establish a scholarship fund for young people studying environmental science and carbon reduction. RM Sotheby’s also stated that the buyer agreed to allow the car to be displayed to the public on special occasions.
The only remaining original 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé is currently on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
Every detail of the car is perfect and preserved.
The news of the auction surprised many car collectors, as Mercedes-Benz had previously refused multiple times to sell this legendary model. The frames of both cars were specifically reserved by Uhlenhaut during production to convert from Formula 1 cars into coupes that could compete in the Carrera Panamericana road race in Italy.
However, the car manufacturer ultimately shut down its racing division later that year after the Le Mans disaster of 1955, which resulted in the deaths of Mercedes-Benz driver Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators. This remains the deadliest accident in motorsport history, and Mercedes-Benz did not return to racing until 1988.
To this day, the identity of the car’s buyer remains completely confidential.
The Mysterious Identity of the Owner
When the world’s most expensive car was sold, the information about the wealthy individual who could spend over 3.6 trillion VND on a vehicle naturally piqued public curiosity. However, the identity of the buyer remains completely confidential.
One speculation about the owner of this supercar is Hans Kleissl, a renowned collector known for his expertise with Mercedes-Benz and the 300SL. He owns HK Engineering, a company specializing in restoring iconic vintage supercars. On his social media, Hans Kleissl has posted many images of the luxurious 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé. However, some believe that Hans Kleissl is not the actual owner of this extravagant supercar, but rather purchased it on behalf of a client.
Images of the world’s most expensive car shared by Hans Kleissl.
