Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupe" #15 Sweden GP (1955) Limited Edition to 1000 pieces 1/18 Diecast Model Car by CMC

Brand new 1/18 scale diecast car model of Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupe" #15 Sweden GP (1955) Limited Edition to 1000 pieces Worldwide die cast model car by CMC. Limited edition. Brand new box. Real rubber tires. True-to-scale detail. Has steerable wheels. Officially licensed product. Has opening hood, doors and trunk. Authentic and true to scale shaped body. Manufacturer's original unopened packaging. Made of diecast metal with some plastic parts. Detailed interior, exterior, engine compartment. Dimensions approximately L-9.75, W-4, H-3 inches. The 300 SLR racer was based on the famous W196 Formula One champion of the 1954-55 season. The abbreviation SLR stands for Sport Light-Racing (Sport Leicht-Rennen). Considered one of the most beautiful racecars of all time, the new SLR was equipped with a slightly different straight-eight engine, which was expanded to displace 3 liters. Two of the nine 300 SLR rolling chassis, namely 0007/55 and 0008/55, were converted into 300 SLR Coupés with a closed-top body and gullwing doors. They were intended for the forthcoming Carrera Panamericana. The body of the SLR coupé was panelled in sheet Elektron, a magnesium alloy that is even lighter than aluminum. The semicircular windscreen generated very little wind resistance. As in the SLR racer, the coupé driver had to control the pedals with his legs apart behind the steering wheel. Under the bonnet was a longitudinally-mounted eight-cylinder engine, which was placed just behind the front axle, developing peak torque of 234 lb-ft at 5950 rpm and a maximum output of 310 horsepower at 7400 rpm. Owing to safety concerns following the tragic accident at Le Mans back in June, Mercedes-Benz decided to pull out of motorsport at the end of the 1955 season. As a result, the SLR coupé project was shelved and never went into production. Subsequently, Rudolph Uhlenhaut appropriated one of the coupés for his personal use. Weighing only 1,117 km and capable of 290 km/h, the Uhlenhaut coupe was by far the fastest road car of its time in the world. Although the 300 SLR coupés stopped short of racing seriously, chassis 0007/55 was no stranger to motorsport racing. In August, Daimler-Benz sent the whole entourage of its racing team to the 1955 Swedish Grand Prix. In the event of Class 1 for racing sports cars, Fangio and Moss drove their 300 SLR racers to a 1-2 victory on August 7. The Swedes noticed that they had a spare “300 SLR Saloon” on the side in case they needed to use it. This 300 SLR had a coupé body and was none other than chassis 0007/55. Uhlenhaut had driven his coupé all the way from Stuttgart to Kristianstad and then test-drove it as Car #15 in the practice session.