Spectacular Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut and new Stealth B7 ...
Running late for an appointment one day in the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz' chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, completed the 2.5-hour journey between Stuttgart and Munich in less than an hour. The car he used was a fixed-head Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, better known as the Uhlenhaut Coupe. The coupe was one of the final developments of the all-conquering 300 SLR before Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing at the end of the 1955 season, following the horrendous Le Mans accident. Just two examples were constructed and only the car later used on the road saw track time in 1955. Although it was not raced, it did participate in three practice sessions late in the season. The second car was slated to compete in the Carrera Panamericana but that was also cancelled in response to the Le Mans tragedy.
Ranked among the most valuable cars in the world, both are still owned by Mercedes-Benz and the second car is regularly brought to shows and events. Its most recent outing was the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was driven by the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart and Mike Hakkinen. Uhlenhaut's car is on permanent display in the company's fabulous museum in Stuttgart. In the last few months we have managed to snap both of them in considerable detail with this 18-shot gallery as a result.
At an event in Poland last month, Stealth Cars introduced the all-new B7. The Chevrolet V8-engined machine uses a spaceframe chassis with a lightweight carbon fibre composite body, resulting in a dry weight of just 1000 kg. The most powerful, competition version features a 650 bhp version of the aluminium engine. A road going version is expected to be introduced at a later date.
Enjoy the links:
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe - Images, Specifications and Information
2010 Stealth B7 - Images, Specifications and Information
If you should see a man walking down a crowded street talking aloud to himself, don't run in the opposite direction, but run towards him, because he's a poet. You have nothing to fear from the poet - but the truth.
(Ted Joans)
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