Vehicle Description
In 1955 Mercedes Benz introduced their new race car design named the 300SLR. It immediately shocked the sports car racing world by winning their 1st entry, the 1000 mile MILLE MIGLIA by an astonishing 45 minutes smashing the course record, which still stands to this day. The 300SLR’s later scored additional 1-2-3 world championship win in the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, Ireland and a 1-2 at the Targa Floria in Sicily, earning Mercedes victory in the 1955 World Sportscar Championship.
However these impressive victories became overshadowed at LEMANS when the once again leading 300SLRs were withdrawn after a horrific accident involving a team car driven by Pierre Levegh. 83 spectators and Levegh lost their lives in what remains the highest-fatality accident in the history of motorsports. Mercedes immediately withdrew from race competition, a ban which would last for 3 decades.
With only 3 300 SLR race cars built, and one being destroyed, Thoroughbred Coach Builders decided to recreate this world famous automobile. In the 80’s they built 7 complete cars, this one being the first and only one with roll up windows as opposed to snap-in side curtains. This was their show car for the 1st few years. This car is built on a tubular racing style frame with a full fiberglass body. The power train is a 350 Chevrolet engine and a 4-speed transmission, with a 8” Ford rear-end. This automobile was built to enjoy with the leather interior, convertible top, side vent windows, heater and defroster, AM/FM radio, intermittent windshield wipers and door locks. The aluminum “ Rudge style wheels” were built by Chris Coddington.
The 2 remaining original 300SLRs now reside in the hands of Mercedes Benz, one in the Mercedes Museum in Germany and the other in an undisclosed location. They will never be offered for sale. This is a rare opportunity to own a RECREATION of one of the most famous sport racing cars ever built. It is well sorted and ready to be enjoyed. It is titled as a 1988 Mercedes Benz 300SLR.
