May 24, 2022

The most valuable car in the world: Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold for an all-time record price of 135 million EUR to establish “Mercedes-Benz Fund”

• All time record: One of two ultra-rare original 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection has been auctioned for 135 million EUR to a private collector, making it the most valuable car of all time.

• Using this value to drive change: The proceeds will be used to establish a worldwide “Mercedes Benz Fund” that will provide educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonisation for young people.

 

Stuttgart.  A Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé from 1955 has been sold at auction for a record price of 135 million EUR to a private collector. This icon of automotive history is an absolute rarity – one of just two prototypes built at the time. Named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of automotive engineering and design by automotive experts and enthusiasts worldwide.

“The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand. The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was taken with very sound reasoning – to benefit a good cause. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship programme. With the “Mercedes-Benz Fund” we would like to encourage a new generation to follow in Rudolf Uhlenhaut’s innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies, particularly those that support the critical goal of decarbonisation and resource preservation,” says Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling: A Mercedes-Benz is by far the most valuable car in the world.”

“As a global company and as a luxury brand we bear a great level of responsibility towards society,” says Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity and Legal Affairs, who is responsible for the governance of the “Mercedes-Benz Fund“. “The proceeds from the sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our commitment with a long-term flagship project: We will establish the global scholarship programme “Mercedes-Benz Fund” supporting young people in their studies, commitment and actions towards a more sustainable future. We are convinced that access to education in these areas will be crucial in encountering the great challenges of our time and contribute to greater stability, prosperity and social cohesion.”

 

Seed capital for scholarship programmes from proceeds

The proceeds from the auction of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé serve as seed capital for the global initiative. Mercedes-Benz is committed to investing additional resources in the coming years. The “Mercedes Benz Fund” will be divided into two sub-categories: University Scholarships in order to connect, educate and encourage students to realize/conduct research on environmental science projects and School Scholarships focussing on pupils to realize local environmental projects in their communities. The programme funds will be directed to individuals who otherwise do not have the financial means for their projects and career paths. The programme will go beyond financially supporting the young people and include extracurricular elements like Mercedes-Benz mentorships opening up new career prospects. The “Mercedes Benz Fund” will be jointly developed with and managed by an experienced partner which is currently being evaluated. The detailed set-up and roll-out planning as well as the partner organisation will be announced later this year.

 

History and auction of 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

The sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé took place on May 5th at an auction held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in cooperation with renowned auctioneer RM Sotheby’s. The invitees were among selected Mercedes-Benz customers and international collectors of cars and art, who share the corporate values of Mercedes-Benz. The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold at auction was part of the non-public vehicle collection belonging to Mercedes-Benz Classic, comprising more than 1100 automobiles from the invention of the automobile in 1886 until today.

“We are proud that we can contribute with our historical collection to this initiative connecting the past with the future of engineering and decarbonisation technology”, says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes Benz Heritage. “The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupé remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.“

The special circumstances behind its creation, its unique design and its innovative technology have endowed the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé with a remarkable level of mystique that endures to this day. The design of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé set benchmarks that put it among the world’s most significant automotive icons – not least on account of its distinctive “gullwing” doors. Added to this is the outstanding performance delivered by its thoroughbred racing technology. Together, both have secured the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé its acclaimed position in sports car mythology and a very special place in the hearts of Mercedes fans around the world.

More information about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé is available in our web special.

 www.mercedes-benz.com 

 

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WELLINGTON, Fla., May 23, 2022—Santa Rita won its first tournament of the spring season Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Playing less than 24 hours after its semifinal game, Santa Rita (Haley Schaufeld, -1, Jason Crowder, 5, Pancho Bensadon, 7, Tommy Collingwood, 5) defeated Newport (Juan Bollini, 4, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Michel Dorignac, 5, Gene Goldstein, 1), 11-8. 

Pancho Bensadon was selected Most Valuable Player. His Ellerstina-bred horse Corbata, played in the second and fifth chukkers, was Best Playing Pony.

After two close chukkers, 2-2 and 3-3, Santa Rita took control of the tempo of the game, pulling ahead to lead at the half, 6-5. Santa Rita never relinguished its lead in the second half, outscoring Newport, 5-3. 

Newport was plagued by fouls and missed scoring opportunities. Newport came within one goal of Santa Rita in the fourth and fifth chukkers but was unable to finish its scoring runs.

Leading 8-7 going into the sixth chukker, Collingwood stole the ball and scored with 6:50 left and Bensadon followed two minutes later with another goal for a 10-7 advantage with 4:37 left. Newport tried to play catch up but ran out of time.

Bensadon scored a game-high five goals. Collingwood had four goals and turned in one of his best games of the season on both ends of the field. Schaufeld and Crowder each had one goal.

Pieres led Newport with four goals. Dorignac had three goals and Bollini added one.

In the subsidiary Just For The Love Of It Cup, Sebucan (Fran Spinacci, -1, Pablo Pulido, 2, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Nic Roldan, 8) defeated Travieso (Teo Calle, 0, Sugar Erskine, 6, Tony Calle, 3, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 12-7.

Sebucan jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the opening chukker behind two goals by Fran Spinacci and one by Pulido, and never trailed after that. 

Sebucan got stronger as the game progressed leading 3-1, 5-2 and 6-3 in the first half and 9-5 and 11-6 after the fourth and fifth chukkers.

Pulido, a Cornell alum, scored a game-high six goals. Thirteen-year-old Fran Spinacci had three goals, Pablo Spinacci had two and Roldan added one.

Sugar Erskine led Travieso with four goals and Tony Calle added three.

In the semifinals Newport advanced with a thrilling 13-12 victory over Sebucan on Friday and Santa Rita knocked off Travieso, 6-5, in the other rain-delayed semifinal on Saturday.

In last year‘s Grand Champions Cup 16-goal final, STM (Grant Ganzi, Paquito de Narvaez, Facundo Llorente, Robert Strom) defeated Sebucan (Pablo Pulido, Pablo Spinacci, Juancito Bollini, Juan Bollini), 20-19. The tournament was played over two days with a running score.

In other spring tournaments, Casablanca has won three titles: Eastern Challenge (Steve Cox, Grant Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Tomacho Pieres), WPL Beach Polo Cup (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan) and Spring Challenge (Meredith Lovegrove, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Tommy Collingwood). Knockers Field (Annabelle Gundlach, Marc Ganzi, Brandon Phillips, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) won the Sun Cup. 

The spring schedule concludes with this weekend‘s May 27-29 WPL Polo Pride.

The spring season is being live-streamed worldwide on Wellington-based ChukkerTV.

Grand Champions, the nation‘s largest  polo club celebrating its 15th anniversary, is coming off successful fall and winter seasons. 

Grand Champions plays host to the World Polo League, the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 100-acre polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in several self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and stick-and-ball fields.

During fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation‘s largest club with 13 well-manicured fields including nine world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita Polo Farm, hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal in addition to special events.

The Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at  561-346-1099 or General Manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.

Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its‘ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its‘ Polo On Demand program.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
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ONA POLO Official Polo Equipment Partner of the POLO RIDER CUP

GAME POLO is proud to announce ONA POLO as the Official Polo Equipment Partner of the POLO RIDER CUP, which will be held from 8 to 18 June 2022 at the Polo Club of Chantilly, north of Paris (France). 

For more than 20 years, ONA POLO has been the choice of polo professionals competing at the highest level in the sport. Embraced by passionate pros and amateurs alike, ONA POLO has become the benchmark of excellence in polo equipment and GAME POLO is delighted to partner with this brand. 

During the competition, ONA POLO will present to the patrons of each team a set of ONA OPTICS VC21 eyewear, which provides uncompromising eye protection and the clearest, sharpest and most accurate vision required on the field. ONA POLO will also participate in the prize presentation of the POLO RIDER CUP FINAL and SUBSIDIARY FINAL by gifting winners the latest releases of ONA POLO equipment. 

Alejandra Falkinhoff, Director of ONA POLO, comments: “We are thrilled to join the POLO RIDER CUP for this 2022 edition, accompanying a remarkable group of high standing partners. Endorsed by the greatest athletes in the sport, our focus is to improve the performance of the game. We are driven by the challenge of producing equipment that meets the demands and expectations of our professional and amateur players. We are very excited to form part of the POLO RIDER CUP, which aligns with our values of excellence.’’

Olivier Godallier, President & Co-Founder of GAME POLO, comments: “We are very pleased to partner with ONA POLO, a premium polo equipment maker that offers excellent quality products to the professionals of this sport, always with the latest technologies, comfort and high standards in terms of safety.’’ 

For more information, please contact GAME POLO at: neus@game-polo.com

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