Mercedes-Benz confirmed it sold the world’s most expensive car ever after a highly unusual invitation-only auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
A very rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz SLR coupe was sold to a private owner for 135 million euros, or about $142.9 million, the most expensive ever, according to Hagerty, a firm specialized in classic cars.
“It’s reasonable to say that nobody ever imagined that this car would ever be offered for sale, so for Mercedes-Benz to ask RM Sotheby’s to conduct the auction was an absolute honor,” said Peter Wallman, RM Sotheby’s chairman for the U.K.
The previous record sale price for a car was recorded in 2018, when a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was sold for $70 million.
According to reports the winning bid was made by British car collector and dealer Simon Kidston on behalf of an unnamed client.
The Mercedes sold was one of only two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe prototypes, the other will remain in the Museum’s collection. Shortly after the development of these cars, the German car manufacturer stopped participating in motorsports, so both SLR coupes were never used in competition.
Mercedes-Benz said it will donate the proceeds to create a fund for scholarships and educational research into the environment and decarbonization.
