The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR is a 2-seater sports racing car that participated in the 1955 World Sports Car Championship before a disastrous crash at Le Mans in the same year. The SLR car designation stands for Sport, Leicht, Rennen (sport, lightweight and racing version).
The car was powered by a 3.0-litre naturally aspirated I8 engine with 302 hp (222 kW), mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Two of the nine chassis produced were converted to 300 SLR/300 SL hybrids. These hybrids were road legal, had wing doors with coupe bodywork. After the Le Mans disaster, the racing program was cancelled and the hybrid project was discontinued. The architect of both cars appropriated one of the hybrids as a passenger car that was capable of speeds up to 290 km/h, making it the fastest road car of its time. One example of the 300 SLR was auctioned for 135 million in 1955 and became the most expensive car ever sold.
