Cars 1955
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Top 10 Cars Cars 1950s Ferrari Jaguar Mercedes-Benz Germany II
Chronology : 20th century 1950-1959 1955
See also : Top 10 Cars Cars 1950s Ferrari Jaguar Mercedes-Benz Germany II
Chronology : 20th century 1950-1959 1955
1955 Mercedes-Benz Uhlenhaut Coupé
2022 SOLD for € 135M by RM Sotheby's
Two special adaptations of the 3 litre 300 SLR coupé were made by Mercedes-Benz in 1955. Designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut, they are known as the Uhlenhaut coupés. Capable of reaching 290 km/h, this model was the fastest road going car of its time.
Employed by Mercedes-Benz since 1931, Uhlenhaut had been a lead designer of the Silver Arrows, of the Formula One highly successful W196 of JM Fangio fame and of the open top Rennsport 300 SLR of Stirling Moss fame. He was also behind the scene of the Le Mans winner W194 and of the road going 300 SL gullwing.
The Uhlenhaut coupés were assembled as two seaters with gullwing doors on two W196 chassis left unused after the 1955 Le Mans crash and the subsequent withdrawal of the brand from motor sport.
Both prototypes were retained by Mercedes-Benz from new. Uhlenhaut had one as a company car. He once drove the 230 km on the autobahn between Stuttgart and Munich in less than an hour.
The first one is on display in the museum of the brand. The second car was used as a demonstration car and was restored in 1986. It was sold for € 135M on May 5, 2022 by RM Sotheby's in a private auction, lot 1. The proceeds help to create a Mercedes-Benz fund for young researchers in environmental science and carbon dioxide reduction.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house, featuring with the hammer Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotheby's Europe.
Employed by Mercedes-Benz since 1931, Uhlenhaut had been a lead designer of the Silver Arrows, of the Formula One highly successful W196 of JM Fangio fame and of the open top Rennsport 300 SLR of Stirling Moss fame. He was also behind the scene of the Le Mans winner W194 and of the road going 300 SL gullwing.
The Uhlenhaut coupés were assembled as two seaters with gullwing doors on two W196 chassis left unused after the 1955 Le Mans crash and the subsequent withdrawal of the brand from motor sport.
Both prototypes were retained by Mercedes-Benz from new. Uhlenhaut had one as a company car. He once drove the 230 km on the autobahn between Stuttgart and Munich in less than an hour.
The first one is on display in the museum of the brand. The second car was used as a demonstration car and was restored in 1986. It was sold for € 135M on May 5, 2022 by RM Sotheby's in a private auction, lot 1. The proceeds help to create a Mercedes-Benz fund for young researchers in environmental science and carbon dioxide reduction.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house, featuring with the hammer Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotheby's Europe.
1955 Ferrari 410 S CM
Intro
The variety of the races on road and track forced the leading brands in the 1950s to develop new solutions to win in all circumstances. The diversity of models, sometimes built in only a few units, is a direct consequence.
In 1950 the Mexican government created one of the most dangerous events, the Carrera Panamericana, an endurance race over 3,300 Km on the rough roads of Mexico. In 1954 the Pan-Am is won by Umberto Maglioli for Scuderia Ferrari with a Ferrari 375 Plus. That model was the technological sensation of the year, designed for power and endurance with its big 4.9 liter engine.
In 1955, Ferrari wants to do even better. They develop the 410 Sports or 410 S CM. S in 410 S means Sports. 410 is the volume per cylinder of the Lampredi V-12 engine for its nearly 5.0 liter overall developed for the 410 Superamerica road car. CM meaning Carrera Messicana clearly indicates that Ferrari relied on the Pan-Am for demonstrating their superiority.
It is required that the car is stable. A new chassis lowers the center of gravity and the wheelbase is slightly reduced to a new standard that will be used two years later for the 250 Testarossa. The 410 S is equipped with a vast tank of 195 liters and large pipes to avoid refueling over long distances.
The production started in 1955 with a terminus ante quem before the January 29, 1956 1,000 km Buenos Aires. They are titled 1955. The bodies designed and built by Sergio Scaglietti are wider than the 375 Plus.
Four cars are built, the first two for private clients and the other two for the Scuderia Ferrari. The first, third and fourth cars are spiders. The second car is a berlinetta. The works cars are arguably the most powerful racing cars of the period with an uprating from 335 to 375 hp by twin plug cylinders for a top speed just over 300 km/h.
The final cancellation of the Panamericana for safety and cost reasons after the 1955 Le Mans disaster ruined Ferrari's expectation that the 410 S CM becomes the demonstrator of their unprecedented know how. The 1,000 km Nürburgring was also cancelled. Some experts view that model as the best Ferrari ever made.
In 1950 the Mexican government created one of the most dangerous events, the Carrera Panamericana, an endurance race over 3,300 Km on the rough roads of Mexico. In 1954 the Pan-Am is won by Umberto Maglioli for Scuderia Ferrari with a Ferrari 375 Plus. That model was the technological sensation of the year, designed for power and endurance with its big 4.9 liter engine.
In 1955, Ferrari wants to do even better. They develop the 410 Sports or 410 S CM. S in 410 S means Sports. 410 is the volume per cylinder of the Lampredi V-12 engine for its nearly 5.0 liter overall developed for the 410 Superamerica road car. CM meaning Carrera Messicana clearly indicates that Ferrari relied on the Pan-Am for demonstrating their superiority.
It is required that the car is stable. A new chassis lowers the center of gravity and the wheelbase is slightly reduced to a new standard that will be used two years later for the 250 Testarossa. The 410 S is equipped with a vast tank of 195 liters and large pipes to avoid refueling over long distances.
The production started in 1955 with a terminus ante quem before the January 29, 1956 1,000 km Buenos Aires. They are titled 1955. The bodies designed and built by Sergio Scaglietti are wider than the 375 Plus.
Four cars are built, the first two for private clients and the other two for the Scuderia Ferrari. The first, third and fourth cars are spiders. The second car is a berlinetta. The works cars are arguably the most powerful racing cars of the period with an uprating from 335 to 375 hp by twin plug cylinders for a top speed just over 300 km/h.
The final cancellation of the Panamericana for safety and cost reasons after the 1955 Le Mans disaster ruined Ferrari's expectation that the 410 S CM becomes the demonstrator of their unprecedented know how. The 1,000 km Nürburgring was also cancelled. Some experts view that model as the best Ferrari ever made.
1
0592 CM Spyder
2014 SOLD for $ 23M by Rick Cole
The first 410 S CM is a one off spyder made in 1955 by Scaglietti. It waits in vain for the Mexican race which is canceled after the accident at Le Mans, for the great frustration of Enzo Ferrari.
It has been little raced and has an incident-free history. It had been nevertheless driven to overall victory by Carroll Shelby at the 1956 Palm Spring Road Races, under the ownership of the elusive Tony Parravano who disappeared in April 1960 before a trial for tax evasion, never to be heard of again.
It was offered by Rick Cole on August 17, 2014 without a floor session. It is illustrated on the article shared by Sports Car Digest. It was reported as unsold with a maximum bid of $ 22.111M. Sports Car Digest later caught the information that it was sold in post block sale for a final price of $ 23M. This price is confirmed by barchetta.com.
Comprehensively restored in 2017 including the engine rebuild, it was sold for $ 13M by RM Sotheby's on August 17, 2024, lot 357.
Its image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
It has been little raced and has an incident-free history. It had been nevertheless driven to overall victory by Carroll Shelby at the 1956 Palm Spring Road Races, under the ownership of the elusive Tony Parravano who disappeared in April 1960 before a trial for tax evasion, never to be heard of again.
It was offered by Rick Cole on August 17, 2014 without a floor session. It is illustrated on the article shared by Sports Car Digest. It was reported as unsold with a maximum bid of $ 22.111M. Sports Car Digest later caught the information that it was sold in post block sale for a final price of $ 23M. This price is confirmed by barchetta.com.
Comprehensively restored in 2017 including the engine rebuild, it was sold for $ 13M by RM Sotheby's on August 17, 2024, lot 357.
Its image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg)
2
0598 CM Spyder
2022 SOLD for $ 22M by RM Sotheby's
Within the low population of four 410 S considered as the best Ferrari ever made and the still lower population of two with twin plug cylinders, the chassis 0598 CM has by far the best racing history, entering nearly 40 events in period and recording 11 victories.
The car was used by the works team in only one event, the 1956 1,000 km Buenos Aires where it was driven by Fangio and Castellotti. It was then raced for the privateer John Edgar. Its most successful driver was Carroll Shelby with 8 wins. The car was sold in 1960 by Edgar to Chinetti.
Carroll Shelby inscribed in 2006 on its fuel tank : "Mr Ferrari told me that this car was the best Ferrari he ever built". He said in period "Nothing can touch this Ferrari if it runs" and much later "It was the best Ferrari I ever drove".
Remaining highly original with its engine, chassis and Scaglietti body in matching numbers, it was sold for $ 22M by RM Sotheby's on August 20, 2022, lot 355. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. Its image at that sale is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : Prova MO, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Its sister car in the Scuderia Ferrari is the 0596 spider which also entered and did not finish the 1956 1,000 km Buenos Aires. It was sold for $ 3.8M by RM Auctions on August 18, 2001.
The car was used by the works team in only one event, the 1956 1,000 km Buenos Aires where it was driven by Fangio and Castellotti. It was then raced for the privateer John Edgar. Its most successful driver was Carroll Shelby with 8 wins. The car was sold in 1960 by Edgar to Chinetti.
Carroll Shelby inscribed in 2006 on its fuel tank : "Mr Ferrari told me that this car was the best Ferrari he ever built". He said in period "Nothing can touch this Ferrari if it runs" and much later "It was the best Ferrari I ever drove".
Remaining highly original with its engine, chassis and Scaglietti body in matching numbers, it was sold for $ 22M by RM Sotheby's on August 20, 2022, lot 355. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. Its image at that sale is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : Prova MO, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Its sister car in the Scuderia Ferrari is the 0596 spider which also entered and did not finish the 1956 1,000 km Buenos Aires. It was sold for $ 3.8M by RM Auctions on August 18, 2001.
3
0594 CM Berlinetta
2012 SOLD for $ 8.25 M$ by RM Auctions
On special order for its original owner, the second 410 S was realized as a road car with a grand touring coupe designed and built by Scaglietti. This berlinetta is the only closed car of this model. Aesthetically speaking, with its very long bonnet, it can be considered as a masterpiece of Scaglietti.
It was sold for $ 8.25M on August 17, 2012 by RM Auctions. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
It was sold for $ 8.25M on August 17, 2012 by RM Auctions. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1955 Jaguar D-Type
2016 SOLD for $ 21.8M by RM Sotheby's
In the early 1950s, Jaguar targets Le Mans. The C-Type perfectly meets this ambition. Design changes are frequent to maintain competitiveness and to follow the rule changes made necessary to ensure the safety. The C-Type Lightweight from 1953 is a transition model preparing the 1954 D-type.
Jaguar triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953 with their C-Type model winning the first, second and fourth final positions. For the first time a radar speed trap was managed in the Mulsanne straight. The highest speed was recorded at 249 km/h with a Cunningham.
The public was eagerly awaiting the 1954 event for which the first-ever television broadcast of that race added a further appeal. Jaguar and Ferrari are the favorites, symbolizing a competition between technology and power.
The Jaguar D-Type model is ready just in time to enter three prototypes. It has been developed in the wind tunnel to improve the stiffness and reduce the drag. It is spectacular with its unprecedented stabilizer fin. The cockpit is monocoque and it is made lighter by the use of an aluminum alloy. The 3.4-liter engine is unchanged from the C-Type.
The D-Type driven by Stirling Moss records the highest top speed at 278 km/h but the over-powered Ferrari 375 Plus with its 4.9-liter engine is the best on the full lap and wins the race.
The first two commercial D-Type, chassis XKD 501 and 502, are delivered in 1955 to Ecurie Ecosse, a private team that works closely with Jaguar. Due to an accident, XKD 501 cannot participate at Le Mans in its first year.
The disaster of Le Mans significantly changes the game. Mercedes-Benz will not return. In 1956, a regulatory limitation of the fuel creates a headache for high volume engines. The XKD 501 of the Ecurie Ecosse wins the race one lap ahead of an Aston Martin. The feat of the Ecurie Ecosse is of high merit because the car is equipped with a big 3.4-liter engine.
Still more important changes are being considered in the rules. In 1957 Jaguar terminates its racing team. In 1958 Le Mans limits the size of engines to 3 liters, precipitating the end of career of the glorious chain of the C-Types and D-Types. It is funny to note that "C" meant Competition while "D" is simply the next after C in the alphabet.
XKD 501 was maintained in its configuration and its engine of the 1956 Le Mans victory. Its condition is certainly the most authentic among the five Jaguar that won at Le Mans in the 1950s. It had been fitted before Le Mans with the engine from the third D -Type of Ecurie Ecosse, XKD 561, a car that the team mostly used as a spare.
XKD 501 was sold for $ 21.8M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2016, lot 114. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Jaguar is hoping to make a commercial profit from the great performance of the D-Type in 1954 at Le Mans : second position overall for Hamilton and Rolt and top speed record at 278 Km/h by Moss. In the following year the brand accepts orders from private teams. The improved 'long nose' variant will however remain for the exclusive use of the works team.
Also in 1955, for meeting the requirement to engage commercially available models in competition, Jaguar begins to produce in series the D-Type model with its 1954 "short nose".
Selling that model was never easy. A red painted D-Type sent to a dealer in Manchester in December 1955 cannot find a buyer. Returned to London, it finally dazzles a driver who buys it to Bernie Ecclestone acting as a trader. After a significant participation in British races from 1956 to 1958, the car becomes the property of the female driver Jean Bloxham who races it twice.
This D-Type XKD 518 has never been modified or damaged and has even been repainted in its original factory red. Former owners praised its comfort and its ideal handling in heavy rain. It was sold for $ 6M by RM Sotheby's on January 22, 2021, lot 141.
In very good condition but without a competition history, XKD 561 was sold for £ 2.6M by Bonhams on December 1, 2013.
Over its three years in production, the population of the D-Type is 6 works cars plus 54 cars for trade.
Jaguar triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953 with their C-Type model winning the first, second and fourth final positions. For the first time a radar speed trap was managed in the Mulsanne straight. The highest speed was recorded at 249 km/h with a Cunningham.
The public was eagerly awaiting the 1954 event for which the first-ever television broadcast of that race added a further appeal. Jaguar and Ferrari are the favorites, symbolizing a competition between technology and power.
The Jaguar D-Type model is ready just in time to enter three prototypes. It has been developed in the wind tunnel to improve the stiffness and reduce the drag. It is spectacular with its unprecedented stabilizer fin. The cockpit is monocoque and it is made lighter by the use of an aluminum alloy. The 3.4-liter engine is unchanged from the C-Type.
The D-Type driven by Stirling Moss records the highest top speed at 278 km/h but the over-powered Ferrari 375 Plus with its 4.9-liter engine is the best on the full lap and wins the race.
The first two commercial D-Type, chassis XKD 501 and 502, are delivered in 1955 to Ecurie Ecosse, a private team that works closely with Jaguar. Due to an accident, XKD 501 cannot participate at Le Mans in its first year.
The disaster of Le Mans significantly changes the game. Mercedes-Benz will not return. In 1956, a regulatory limitation of the fuel creates a headache for high volume engines. The XKD 501 of the Ecurie Ecosse wins the race one lap ahead of an Aston Martin. The feat of the Ecurie Ecosse is of high merit because the car is equipped with a big 3.4-liter engine.
Still more important changes are being considered in the rules. In 1957 Jaguar terminates its racing team. In 1958 Le Mans limits the size of engines to 3 liters, precipitating the end of career of the glorious chain of the C-Types and D-Types. It is funny to note that "C" meant Competition while "D" is simply the next after C in the alphabet.
XKD 501 was maintained in its configuration and its engine of the 1956 Le Mans victory. Its condition is certainly the most authentic among the five Jaguar that won at Le Mans in the 1950s. It had been fitted before Le Mans with the engine from the third D -Type of Ecurie Ecosse, XKD 561, a car that the team mostly used as a spare.
XKD 501 was sold for $ 21.8M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2016, lot 114. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Jaguar is hoping to make a commercial profit from the great performance of the D-Type in 1954 at Le Mans : second position overall for Hamilton and Rolt and top speed record at 278 Km/h by Moss. In the following year the brand accepts orders from private teams. The improved 'long nose' variant will however remain for the exclusive use of the works team.
Also in 1955, for meeting the requirement to engage commercially available models in competition, Jaguar begins to produce in series the D-Type model with its 1954 "short nose".
Selling that model was never easy. A red painted D-Type sent to a dealer in Manchester in December 1955 cannot find a buyer. Returned to London, it finally dazzles a driver who buys it to Bernie Ecclestone acting as a trader. After a significant participation in British races from 1956 to 1958, the car becomes the property of the female driver Jean Bloxham who races it twice.
This D-Type XKD 518 has never been modified or damaged and has even been repainted in its original factory red. Former owners praised its comfort and its ideal handling in heavy rain. It was sold for $ 6M by RM Sotheby's on January 22, 2021, lot 141.
In very good condition but without a competition history, XKD 561 was sold for £ 2.6M by Bonhams on December 1, 2013.
Over its three years in production, the population of the D-Type is 6 works cars plus 54 cars for trade.
1955 Ferrari 375 MM
2025 SOLD for $ 9.5M by Gooding
The Ferrari 375 MM was obsoleted for racing by the 375 Plus after the 1954 season. Some examples were nevertheless assembled in 1955.
One of these 375 MM is a bespoke berlinetta completed by Pinin Farina in February 1955 as a race car for the road built on order from an important client and friend of Ferrari. It was awarded first in class at the 1956 Pebble Beach concours d'élégance for European sports cars over $ 10,000.
Retaining engine, gearbox and differential in matching numbers and accompanied by its original spares box, it was sold for $ 9.5M from a lower estimate of $ 8M by Gooding on March 7, 2025, lot 154 illustrated in the pre-sale press release, from a 56 year ownership in the Leydorf collection including a careful restoration. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
One of these 375 MM is a bespoke berlinetta completed by Pinin Farina in February 1955 as a race car for the road built on order from an important client and friend of Ferrari. It was awarded first in class at the 1956 Pebble Beach concours d'élégance for European sports cars over $ 10,000.
Retaining engine, gearbox and differential in matching numbers and accompanied by its original spares box, it was sold for $ 9.5M from a lower estimate of $ 8M by Gooding on March 7, 2025, lot 154 illustrated in the pre-sale press release, from a 56 year ownership in the Leydorf collection including a careful restoration. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1955 Ferrari 121 LM
2023 SOLD for € 5.7M by RM Sotheby's
Mercedes-Benz, the new leader in Formula 1, also turned to sports car racing. Their 300 SLR was powered by a 3-litre straight-8 engine.
In the late 1954, Ferrari's response to the 300 SLR was the tipo 114 Lampredi engine, a 3 litre straight 6 which was adding two cylinders to the Ferrari 500 engine. Its unique prototype was not raced, as Ferrari immediately prepared the tipo 118 that increased the volume to 3.7 litres.
Mercedes-Benz was still the best, achieving first and second overall in the Mille Miglia on May 1, 1955 ahead of a Ferrari 376 S, also known as 118 LM referring to its engine and to the Le Mans 24 targeting.
Ferrari had also developed the 4.4 litre tipo 121. Four cars were prepared in spiders by Scaglietti with the reference 121 LM also known as 735 LM. Two of them were upgradings from the 118 LM. No 118 survives in its original form.
The Scuderia entered three 121 LM at Le Mans. They did not finish. One of them had recorded 290 km/h in the straights.
Another one of the three had been a 118 upgraded after the Mille Miglia. After Le Mans, it started a successful career in California until its colliding into a tree killed its driver in April 1956.
Keeping its engine and gearbox in matching numbers, it was sold for $ 5.7M by RM Sotheby's on August 18, 2017, lot 140. Please watch the video shared by AutosportDesigns while it was available for sale one month after that auction. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Its complete restoration in its Le Mans configuration, justly terminated before the 100th anniversary of that prestigious event, awarded it a further Ferrari Classiche certification. It was sold for € 5.7M at Le Mans by RM Sotheby's on June 9, 2023, lot 123.
After the 1955 disaster, the displacement at Le Mans was limited to 2.5 liters, de facto terminating that range of Ferrari models. Their successor at Le Mans was the 625 LM displacing that volume.
In the late 1954, Ferrari's response to the 300 SLR was the tipo 114 Lampredi engine, a 3 litre straight 6 which was adding two cylinders to the Ferrari 500 engine. Its unique prototype was not raced, as Ferrari immediately prepared the tipo 118 that increased the volume to 3.7 litres.
Mercedes-Benz was still the best, achieving first and second overall in the Mille Miglia on May 1, 1955 ahead of a Ferrari 376 S, also known as 118 LM referring to its engine and to the Le Mans 24 targeting.
Ferrari had also developed the 4.4 litre tipo 121. Four cars were prepared in spiders by Scaglietti with the reference 121 LM also known as 735 LM. Two of them were upgradings from the 118 LM. No 118 survives in its original form.
The Scuderia entered three 121 LM at Le Mans. They did not finish. One of them had recorded 290 km/h in the straights.
Another one of the three had been a 118 upgraded after the Mille Miglia. After Le Mans, it started a successful career in California until its colliding into a tree killed its driver in April 1956.
Keeping its engine and gearbox in matching numbers, it was sold for $ 5.7M by RM Sotheby's on August 18, 2017, lot 140. Please watch the video shared by AutosportDesigns while it was available for sale one month after that auction. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Its complete restoration in its Le Mans configuration, justly terminated before the 100th anniversary of that prestigious event, awarded it a further Ferrari Classiche certification. It was sold for € 5.7M at Le Mans by RM Sotheby's on June 9, 2023, lot 123.
After the 1955 disaster, the displacement at Le Mans was limited to 2.5 liters, de facto terminating that range of Ferrari models. Their successor at Le Mans was the 625 LM displacing that volume.
,_front_left_on_lift.jpg)
1955 Ferrari 250 GT
1
berlinetta prototype
2021 SOLD for € 6.2M by RM Sotheby's
In the GT class, the Ferrari 250 was originally made in two series, the 250 Europa released in 1953 with a Lampredi V12 engine, and the 250 Europa GT released in 1954 with a V12 Colombo.
For the GT competition, the successful 250 MM will need a successor. In 1955 Ferrari prepares in four prototypes a Speciale 250 Europa GT Competizione with the V12 Colombo.
The third prototype is fitted by Pinin Farina as a berlinetta similar to the 375 MM. This forerunner of the TdF was sold € 6.2M by RM Sotheby's on November 19, 2021, lot 152. The engine, gear box and rear axle are in matching numbers.
For the GT competition, the successful 250 MM will need a successor. In 1955 Ferrari prepares in four prototypes a Speciale 250 Europa GT Competizione with the V12 Colombo.
The third prototype is fitted by Pinin Farina as a berlinetta similar to the 375 MM. This forerunner of the TdF was sold € 6.2M by RM Sotheby's on November 19, 2021, lot 152. The engine, gear box and rear axle are in matching numbers.
2
berlinetta competizione
2013 SOLD for $ 7.2M by Gooding
The risk was with technical developments that increased the power and speed of the cars. The accident at Le Mans in 1955 led the organizers to create more stringent regulations. In Mexico, the very dangerous Carrera Panamericana is prohibited.
The Ferrari 250 GT supersedes at that time the glorious 250 MM, and will be as successful or even more. The berlinettas aim to win on the road. Pinin Farina designs for the competition a light aluminum body.
One of the earliest examples of 250 GT berlinetta competizione was delivered to Alfonso de Portago. Known to be mad of speed both on the road and in bobsleigh, the young marquess went to join the Scuderia Ferrari. He sought the extreme speed, the rest did not matter. His berlinetta was white (bianco avus), without unnecessary equipment.
This car was raced by Portago in The Bahamas. Restored as close as possible to its original configuration, it never had a major accident. Its currently fitted V12 engine coming from a 250 GT Boano is period correct.
Accompanied by its original matching numbers engine block, it was sold for $ 7.2M on August 18, 2013 by Gooding, lot 143. It is illustrated in 3rd position in the press release before it passed at the same auction house on August 17, 2024, lot 169.
On 12 May 1957 in the Mille Miglia, Portago enters the worst sporting legend with a Ferrari 335 Sport. A tire explodes at 240 km/h. He and his co-pilot are killed along with ten spectators. The accident, one of the most serious in the history of car racing, generates the suspension sine die of the prestigious Mille Miglia event.
The Ferrari 250 GT supersedes at that time the glorious 250 MM, and will be as successful or even more. The berlinettas aim to win on the road. Pinin Farina designs for the competition a light aluminum body.
One of the earliest examples of 250 GT berlinetta competizione was delivered to Alfonso de Portago. Known to be mad of speed both on the road and in bobsleigh, the young marquess went to join the Scuderia Ferrari. He sought the extreme speed, the rest did not matter. His berlinetta was white (bianco avus), without unnecessary equipment.
This car was raced by Portago in The Bahamas. Restored as close as possible to its original configuration, it never had a major accident. Its currently fitted V12 engine coming from a 250 GT Boano is period correct.
Accompanied by its original matching numbers engine block, it was sold for $ 7.2M on August 18, 2013 by Gooding, lot 143. It is illustrated in 3rd position in the press release before it passed at the same auction house on August 17, 2024, lot 169.
On 12 May 1957 in the Mille Miglia, Portago enters the worst sporting legend with a Ferrari 335 Sport. A tire explodes at 240 km/h. He and his co-pilot are killed along with ten spectators. The accident, one of the most serious in the history of car racing, generates the suspension sine die of the prestigious Mille Miglia event.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing
2022 SOLD for $ 6.8M by RM Sotheby's
In 1954 Mercedes-Benz releases the 300 SL coupe. 300 refers to a 3-liter engine and SL (Sport Leicht) is a skilled summary of the targeted market. Its unprecedented gullwing doors have their hinge in the axis of the roof. Access to the seat is not really easy and rainwater pours on the passenger's head when he gets out of the car. From 1954 to 1957, 1,400 cars were produced before a come back to a more classical design.
The Alloy version also identified as Leichtmetall was released in 1955 for road going competition. The weight reduction is 80 kg from the basic steel model. 24 cars were produced in 1955 and 5 in 1956.
The 13th Alloy Gullwing had been delivered to the Mercedes-Benz agent in Casablanca. It was not used in competition in period and escaped the usual wear of its thin aluminum based body.
In a stunning condition with its matching number engine and original body, it was sold for $ 6.8M by RM Sotheby's on January 27, 2022, lot 159. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Another 1955 300 SL Alloy Gullwing that also retains its matching number engine was sold for $ 4.6M by Gooding on January 20, 2012, lot 27.
The 26th, completed in January 1956, was sold for $ 9.4M by RM Sotheby's on October 26, 2024, lot 290.
The Alloy version also identified as Leichtmetall was released in 1955 for road going competition. The weight reduction is 80 kg from the basic steel model. 24 cars were produced in 1955 and 5 in 1956.
The 13th Alloy Gullwing had been delivered to the Mercedes-Benz agent in Casablanca. It was not used in competition in period and escaped the usual wear of its thin aluminum based body.
In a stunning condition with its matching number engine and original body, it was sold for $ 6.8M by RM Sotheby's on January 27, 2022, lot 159. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Another 1955 300 SL Alloy Gullwing that also retains its matching number engine was sold for $ 4.6M by Gooding on January 20, 2012, lot 27.
The 26th, completed in January 1956, was sold for $ 9.4M by RM Sotheby's on October 26, 2024, lot 290.
