SOLD
Update: SOLD!
I am very pleased to offer this fabulous 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR replica. This car was built by Thoroughbred Coach Builders in Washington (later located in Florida) as a factory turnkey car. In fact, this car was the first 300SLR replica built by Thoroughbred and was used as their show car. This is the only car with full roll up windows as opposed to side windows which the subsequent cars have. Mileage is only slightly over 15,000 miles. Car is titled as a 1988 Mercedes Benz.
There is just something uniquely interesting about a car that your body seems to “slip” into. That big threshold and wide SL door is like no other, and the builders of this special replica did make sure their legend was intact.
According to the owner, “every time I climb into the cockpit of this fabulous recreation, it transports me to another place and time. From the looks of the people around me when driving, I’d say it does the same for them.
Now, I have been around collector and special interest cars for the last 30 years and have seen many a replica. So it is a big thing when I make the statement; I have NEVER seen one built to this standard.
There were probably a number of bodies sold off by Thoroughbred possibly over the years, but only SEVEN complete cars were built by the factory – making this particular piece extremely rare.”
The car is built on a tubular racing style frame with a full fiberglass body and features a built Chevrolet 350 motor (at least 370 hp), 4-speed manual (B&M Shifter) and 8” Ford rear-end. In addition, when was the last time you saw a replica with roll-up windows, side vent windows, an incredible convertible top, a heater and a defroster, intermittent windshield wipers and door locks? Side curtains were used instead of roll-up windows with scantily appointed interiors.
This is a drivable car in modern day traffic, with all the creature comforts you would expect. The most recent owner was a motor guy and spent over $5K going through the engine.
The exterior is complemented by a full set of Rudge replica knockoffs, built by Chris Coddington of Boyds Wheels. Rudge knockoffs were an option on factory 300SL Gullwings and early racing Porsches. These are bolt-ons made from aluminum and are very high quality.
The body is in excellent condition and has never been touched in any way. The original white paint has a few minor scratches and would be a solid 9 out of 10. For it’s age, it is really closer to a 9.8. The body panels are straight as an arrow and if you study the pictures, you can see that all panel gaps are exacting all the way around the car. The body on this replica is probably one of the most discriminating I have ever personally seen (according to the owner).
The tan interior is appealing and compliments the car well. The seats and dash have no rips, tears or sun damage. It also has an AM/FM radio, both driver and passenger seatbelts and the carpets are in great condition with no rips or signs of coming unglued.
This Mercedes Benz SLR Replica is outfitted with 8 emblems including a 300SLR script on the trunk lid. The plexiglas covered headlights go extremely well with the driving lights. One of the most unique features of this car are the pontoon headrests which gives the car great lines. Power steering and power brakes makes this car easy and fun to drive.
A real 300SLR, which would be virtually impossible to obtain, is valued at over $15 million dollars, but this is a great opportunity to own one at a fraction of the cost.
This car is ready to be enjoyed by any car enthusiast who enjoys the racing look and quality of craftsmanship and detail and drivability.
A stunning, powerful and extremely rare sports car for the connoisseur, the 300 SLR recreates the look, sound and sheer presence of one of the rarest and most valuable cars in the world, the Mercedes 300 SLR. The original car rests solely in the hands of the Mercedes Museum. Imagine this car in your collection, just a silver paint finish (with a number 722 on the rear) and blue plaid interior away from matching the original car of Sterling Moss (picture attached).
History:
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W196S) was an iconic 2-seat sports racer that took sportscar racing by storm in 1955, winning that year’s World Sportscar Championship before a catastrophic crash and fire at Le Mans ended its domination prematurely.
In 1955, 534 racing motorcars from around Europe descended on Italy for the 1000 mile Mille Miglia. Sir Sterling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio finished first and second in the Open Class in Mercedes SLR’s, beating Ferrari by over 45 minutes and smashing the course record, which stands to this day. Mercedes would also finish one-two in the GT class using 300SL’s of lesser engine displacement.
Designated “SL-R” (for Sport Leicht-Rennen, eng: Sport Light-Racing, later condensed to “SLR”), the 3-liter thoroughbred was derived from the company’s Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula One racer. It shared most of its drivetrain and chassis, with the 196’s fuel-injected 2,496.87 cc straight 8 bored and stroked to 2,981.70 cc and boosted to 310 bhp (230 kW).
The W196s monoposto driving position was modified to standard two-abreast seating, headlights were added, and a few other changes made to adapt a strictly track competitor to a 24-hour road/track sports racer.
Two of the nine 300 SLR rolling chassis produced were converted into 300 SLR/300 SL hybrids. Effectively road legal racers, they had coupé styling, gull-wing doors, and a footprint midway between the two models.
When Mercedes canceled its racing program after the Le Mans disaster, the hybrid project was shelved. Company design chief Rudolf Uhlenhaut, architect of both the 300 SLR racer and the hybrids, appropriated one of the leftover mules as his personal driver. Capable of approaching 290 km/h (180 mph), the Uhlenhaut Coupé was far and away the fastest road car in the world in its day.
https://www.ronsusser.com/inventory/listing/1955-mercedes-benz-300-slr-replica-gentlemans-race-car/