At a secret auction in Germany, Mercedes-Benz confirmed that a very rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe became the most expensive classic car in the world. Sold for $142 million dollars to a private collector, this car gleefully steals the title of 'World's most expensive car' from it's previous record holder, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO.

The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut, named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, is regarded by automotive professionals worldwide as one of the best examples of automotive engineering and design. The 300 SLR was based on Mercedes W196 GP car that took legendary Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio  to two F1 world titles –  it also happened to be Rudolf’s company car. A 3.0-litre straight-eight propelled the SLR to a top speed of 180mph making it one of the fastest street-legal cars ever built. You could make a strong case that it was one of the world's first ever ‘supercars’.

Rudolf Uhlenhaut, despite being one of Germany’s greatest engineers, was born in Highgate, London – a stone throw away from Hexagon Classics. Hexagon Classics focuses on the rarest and most collectable marques in the world and is often the first port of call for any serious collector or investor. We have welcomed a wave of new stock into the showroom, including a very beautiful 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (W121) (often nicknamed the Gullwing’s ‘little brother’). The body of the 190 SL, designed by Karl Wilfert and Walter Häcker, bore strong allusions to the 300 SL. The car shown in February 1954 in New York was a prototype that was neither tested in engineering terms nor stylistically matured; the 190 SL was then painstakingly reworked on both counts, and Mercedes-Benz presented the definitive version at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1955. Our low mileage 190 SL enjoyed a full restoration by Belgian classic car specialists, before coming to the UK in 2015. Marque experts have meticulously looked after the car since. It is undoubtedly one of those designs whose perfect proportions continue to inspire even half a century after its production ended. Between 1955 and 1963, this model was considered the Daimler-Benz sports car. Complete with a hard top, this 190 SL Roadster is a terrific sports car for both touring and showing. Should you be interested to discuss our impeccable Mercedes-Benz 190 SL or to discuss your specific requirements, please contact Hexagon Classics on 0208 348 5151.