The Car That’s Worth $42 Million, but Will Never Be Sold
Carlos Kirby
· 4 min read
Many vintage cars with high historic and sentimental values often make comebacks to consumer markets despite their high prices. However, others will never run on tracks because the manufacturer takes pride in their product. One such car is the
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
. Built-in 1955, the roadster dominated race tracks and was later archived due to its historical significance. According to classic car traders and auction house experts, the iconic Mercedes Benz 300 SLR is valued at a whopping $42 million.
And while many affluent vintage car enthusiasts would wish to own one of the remaining models,
Mercedes Benz specifies
clearly that it can't and won't sell it.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR: The 1950s racing icon
It's understandable to think of the 2005-2009 Mercedes-McLaren SLR on the first mention of the 300 SLR roadsters, but the two are different models from different ages. The latter is the only model that featured and won the Mille Miglia race in 1955 with Sterling Moss behind the wheel alongside his co-driver, Denis Jenkinson.
The race car bore the number "722", signifying the time it started the race (7.22 am). This iconic 1955 300 SLR will forever be mentioned in sports car racing.
It covered a total of 991.92 miles at an average speed of 98 mph on various tracks, including city streets, cobblestone, and unforgiving rugged terrain. Moss became a serial winner with the 309-HP 300SLR, solidifying the model dominance in the golden era of automobile racing.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Why does the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR have such a high valuation?
One primary reason for the model's astonishingly high valuation is because it's simply a gem. The cars are extremely limited and have high sentimental value. Mercedes Benz only manufactured three-300 SLR roadsters, and as noted in
Our SL
, the 722 is currently valued at $42 million. That's virtually $7 million more than the second most-valuable classic car: the 1935-1937 Bugatti 57C Atlantic valued at $35.5 million. Also, because Britain's most celebrated Grand Prix driver piloted the most dominating race car in the most treacherous and romantic courses, it's no wonder many classic car experts agree with the vehicle's high valuation.
The car's performance and specs set the racing standards during the time. It packed a 2982 cc M196 S Straight 8 engine that delivered an impressive 309 HP and 229 pound-feet of torque. The motor was combined with a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. According to
Fastest Laps
, the 300 SLR could reach a top speed of 176 mph. No matter how hard-pressed, Mercedes Benz won't sell the 300 SLR
MORE: The 2022 Mercedes EQB Electric: A Luxurious 3-Row SUV
The historical value of the 300 SLR is almost priceless, but some would say the $42 million price tag is significantly steep. Classic car prices also depend on how often vehicles make it back to the market. Some valuable surviving cars often come back to the market, but you'll probably never see the 300 SLR running on the road again.
The automaker considers it part of its DNA and holds it in high regard. Even if you presented Mercedes with a leather satchel filled with $42 million in cash, you'd be surprised that the German automaker would say, "Thank you, but this car is out of the market."
Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.
After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers,
Jerry
will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don't have to. They even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?
.jpg&w=64&q=75){kind=avatar}
