Car of the Day - Mercedes Benz 300 SLR

Car of the Day - Mercedes Benz 300 SLR

Mercedes Benz have with the 300 SLR arguably the most important car in Motor Sport history. Those that are into lists would undoubtably find it at the top of many.

While successful in many races the one that built the legend is the Moss - Jenkinson run of the 1955 Mille Migle in the now iconic "722". (a detailed COTD on 722 is planned fo the future). The 1955 running of the 1600 km race from Brescia to Rome and back took just ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds at an average speed of 157.65 km/h, still an amazing feat to this day. Mercedes rightly celebrate this achievement often and honoured Moss last year with the production of the SLR - Stirling Moss.

The brains behind the 300 SLR, and the Silver Arrows for that matter, was the equally legendary but less well known Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Uhlenhaut was both a skilled race driver and brilliant technical director and much of the success of the 300 SLR can be attributed to him. The 300 SLR dominated the 1955 season which unfortunately was was marred by the worst accident in motor sport history. At Le Mans in 1955 81 people were killed when a 300 SLR driven by Pierre Levegh was forced off the track and into spectators. Mercedes immediately withdrew from the race and later International Motor Sport altogether.

The 300 SLR is a technical and engineering masterpiece with its lightweight, high-strength tubular steel frame and stunning aluminium body. The Formula 1 derived straight eight develops 310 hp at 7400 rpm and 317 nM of torque at 5950 rpm. The engine is mounted at a 33 degree angle to lower hood line. In its 2.5 Formula 1 and 3 litre Sports Car configurations the straight eight was subjected to one of the most intensive and grueling testing programs ever, running 10,000 km at race speeds and then 32 hours no stop on a dyno. Wear and longevity were undoubtably helped by the 35 litres oil capacity.

The SLR also featured a unique air-brake system to slow the car from high speed. The driver actuated hydraulic pum operated brake raised and broke air-flow with it's 0.7 square metre flap.

One of the true greats of motor racing even with its career cut short.

Rod Halligan