300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, W196 S, 1955, company car with silencer

Product Description

The coupé variant of the 300 SLR race car was created in 1955 so that a closed vehicle would be available for long-distance races, making the experience less of an ordeal for the drivers. Two 300 SLR chassis were fitted with coupé bodywork. The closed version, however, was never used for racing. This was partly due to the fact that the sixth Carrera Panamericana, which would have been the perfect event for the coupé, was cancelled in August 1955 after an objection by the Mexican government. On top of this, Daimler‑Benz’s announcement in October 1955 that it was withdrawing from motor racing took away any hope of taking part in events in 1956. The fact that the 300 SLR Coupé did not simply stand around gathering dust was down to Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who, after all, had created this driving machine. Uhlenhaut, who was an excellent driver, covered vast distances on numerous journeys across Europe in one of the two models, impressively demonstrating that this top-class 300 hp racing car was both reliable and suitable for everyday use. One concession to use on normal roads was the addition of a giant exhaust silencer on the right-hand side, which reduced the ear-piercing background noise to a more bearable level.

Today the "Uhlenhaut Coupé" forms part of the Mercedes‑Benz Museum collection and, when it appears at events, continues to attract tremendous interest from public and media alike.

300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, W196 S, 1955, company car with silencer, silver. Diecast metal. Scale 1:18. Accurate reproduction. Detailed, high-quality printed interior. By CMC for Mercedes‑Benz.

Product Information

• Article Number: B66040608