Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe #T1 RAC Tourist Trophy 1955 Limited Edition to 1000 pieces Worldwide 1/18 Diecast Model Car CMC M-245

Product Description

The 300 SLR racer was based on the famous W196 Formula One champion of the 1954-55 season. The abbreviation SLR stands for Sport Light-Racing (Sport Leicht-Rennen). Considered one of the most beautiful racecars of all time, the new SLR was equipped with a slightly different straight-eight engine, which was expanded to displace 3 liters. Two of the nine 300 SLR rolling chassis, namely 0007/55 and 0008/55, were converted into 300 SLR Coupés with a closed-top body and gullwing doors. They were intended for the forthcoming Carrera Panamericana.
The body of the SLR coupé was panelled in sheet Elektron, a magnesium alloy that is even lighter than aluminum. The semicircular windscreen generated very little wind resistance. As in the SLR racer, the coupé driver had to control the pedals with his legs apart behind the steering wheel. Under the bonnet was a longitudinally-mounted eight-cylinder engine, which was placed just behind the front axle, developing peak torque of 234 lb-ft at 5950 rpm and a maximum output of 310 horsepower at 7400 rpm.
Owing to safety concerns following the tragic accident at Le Mans back in June, Mercedes-Benz decided to pull out of motorsport at the end of the 1955 season. As a result, the SLR coupé project was shelved and never went into production. Subsequently, Rudolph Uhlenhaut appropriated one of the coupés for his personal use. Weighing only 1,117 km and capable of 290 km/h, the Uhlenhaut coupe was by far the fastest road car of its time in the world.
To get back in the hunt for championship, the Mercedes Squad took this race very seriously. They left nothing to chance and had brought no fewer than five SLRs. Two were assigned for practice – chassis 0007/55 as TI (closed-top) and 0002/55 as T2 (open-top). The three SLR racer pairings were Fangio/Kling, Moss/Fitch, and von Trip/Simon. As a newcomer, Wolfgang von Trip was made to drive chassis 0007/55 all the way from Stuttgart. In the practice session, he split the use of chassis 0007/55 with Moss, Fangio, Kling, and Uhlenhaut. Together, they raced the T1 for 357 kilometers.