When Mercedes Benz told it’s drivers of the companies plans to return to sports car racing in 1955 with a gull wing bodied version of the W196 R formula one car the drivers were horrified and objected to the idea of sitting in a closed cockpit behind a formula one engine because the noise and heat would be difficult to endure over the longer races such as the 10 hour Mille Miglia where no driver change was permitted or the Le Mans 24 hours where two drivers were permitted.

As a consequence Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut furnished his team with the 300 SLR Roadsters that would become the über successful World Sportscar Championship winning cars during a season in which the most famous win was that of Stirling Moss and his co driver Denis Jenkinson on the Mille Miglia.

During the course of the 1955 season nine 300 SLR’s were built and two of them today’s featured chassis, which I believe is, #no.7 and #no.8 were built with Coupé bodies on the orders of Rudolf.

The two Coupés differ in detail with #no.7 having a squared scoop on the top of the bonnet that does not feature on #no.8, #no.7 also has a much simpler grill decoration, which possibly backs up Mercedes claim that the company was interested in exploring the idea of developing a Gull Wing Coupé for the 1956 season, regardless of the team drivers objections, before the companies plans changed in light of the tragedy at Le Mans in 1955.

I believe the 176mph 300 SLR Coupé Rudolf Uhlenhaut used as his personal transport was #no.8.

Thanks for joining me on this Scoop & Simple Grill edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !