VIN: the World Record-setting €135m Mercedes-Benz W196S 300 SLR chassis 0008/55
History of chassis 0008/55
Chassis 0008/55 was the last of eight 300 SLRs built and one of only two configured as Coupes.
The SLR Coupe was initially conceived for long distance road races where it was thought a fixed head body would prove advantageous. Mercedes’ chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, ordered a pair of the new cars after the 1955 Mille Miglia and planned to race them in the season-ending Carrera Panamericana.
The first of the Coupes (chassis 0007/55, the car raced in Spider trim by Fangio and Moss at Le Mans) made its public debut as the T-car for the Swedish Grand Prix at Kristianstad (August 7th). It then carried out the same role at the Dundrod Tourist Trophy (September 18th) and the Targa Florio (October 16th).
Unfortunately, neither 0007/55 nor 0008/55 went on to race at the Carrera Panamericana because the event was cancelled in the aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster where 83 spectators lost their lives when Pierre Levegh’s 300 SLR (chassis 0006/55) barrel rolled into the crowd.
Mercedes withdrew from motor racing following the 1955 season-ending Targa Florio on October 16th where they secured that year’s World Sportscar Championship title.
Without the need to have the two SLR Coupes ready for the now-cancelled Carrera Panamericana (originally scheduled to take place in late November), the assembly of 0008/55 apparently did not begin until December.
The car was reputedly finished in June of 1956.
Compared to 0007/55 it had a couple of minor cosmetic differences. Most obviously, 0008/55 did not have a Mercedes-Benz badge above the nose intake and the patterned chequered fabric used to upholster the seats was not quite the same.
Soon after completion, 0008/55 was fitted with a large exhaust silencer and the hood was modified to incorporate a slim rectangular intake. In this configuration, a series of tests were undertaken including at Monza.
The years that followed saw the car used at shows and demonstration events around the world.
In 1986, Mercedes sent 0008/55 to renowned British restorer, Tony Merrick, for a sympathetic refurbishment.
The car then resumed its show and demonstration career; during 2003 it was selected to appear in promotional images for the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
Mercedes retained chassis 0008/55 until May 2022, at which point it was sold via RM Sotheby’ for a world record €135m.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Mercedes-Benz - https://www.mercedes-benz.com
