What Car Holds The Most Expensive Car Record In The World? Here's The Answer

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhut Coupe in 1955. (Doc. RM Sotheby's)

JAKARTA - In 2022, history recorded a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhut Coupe in 1955 as the most expensive car ever sold, and that value has not been broken to date. The car was sold in an auction at a fantastic price, reaching 135 million euros, equivalent to IDR 2.3 trillion.

Previously, quoted from Autocar, August 21, this car was not sold by Mercedes-Benz but was given to RM Sotheby's for auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum and bought by someone who did not want to be named.

That high price is a current world record for any car price, exceeding more than double the previous record, held by Ferrari 250 GTO.

It is known that there are only two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhut Couple units ever made by Mercedes-Benz, and this car is named after the company's lead engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut.

This car is designed as a road version of the W 196 R Grand Prix race car, with an enlarged 3.0 liter straight-weight engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 290 km/hour.

The sold car has a chassis frame number 00008/55 or the second production of two cars built, and is often used by Uhlenhut itself. With this sale, 300 SLRs are included in the list of the 10 most expensive items ever sold in auctions in the world.

After the auction, Mercedes announced that all proceeds from its sale will be used to establish a "Mercedes-Benz Fund" which will function globally. RM Sotheby's added that the funds will be used to provide educational and research scholarships in the field of environmental science and decarbonization for the younger generation.