Who doesn’t know about the famous Uhlenhaut coupé with its landmark gullwing doors? Only two prototypes of this model were built, and it was and still is a formidable street car. The irony is that most people only had the chance to see it from behind. Back then, while the fastest BMW was capable of reaching 170 km/h, and the fastest Porsche, even up to 200 km/h, the Uhlenhaut coupé could speed at nearly 300 km/h. It surely caused a lot of amazement as well as jealousy.
The explanation, however, is simple. Underneath the bodywork is an enhanced 3-litre Formula 1 engine. Actually the two coupés were built for racing. Their intended mission was to participate in endurance races, such as the Mille Miglia or the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But Daimler surprisingly decided to retire from professional racing at the end of 1955, and the situation changed drastically.
Rudolf Uhlenhaut, an ingenious engineer in charge of the Mercedes racing department, rightly decided that it would be a shame to let the two cars sit idle to gather dust in a garage. As a result, the two 300 SLR coupés became his personal company cars. Today every automobile enthusiast knows what is meant by “the Uhlenhaut coupé,” even though this was never an official designation. When Rudolf went to work in the morning, the whole neighborhood noticed it. Because the 300 hp 8-cylinder would send out a throbbing uproar. And there were limits to what the additional silencer could do to reduce the deafening noise of the side pipes. Rudolf Uhlenhaut really enjoyed driving the coupés, and he also had the skills to handle these beasts of power. Contemporary witnesses confirm that he was able to drive from Stuttgart to Munich in less than an hour. Given the increasing traffic congestion, this is something we can only dream about today.
If you want to see the original Uhlenhaut coupé, you have to visit the Daimler museum in Stuttgart, Germany. If you want to see it every day, however, just put our incomparably beautiful model on display in your cabinet.
{TAB=Technical Specifications}
Technical data of the original vehicle: • 8-cylinder in-line-engine (installed in a 33° inclination to the right side) • Direct fuel injection • Desmodromic valve control (positively controlled valves) • Chassis: wishbone in the front, one joint single hinged swing axle in the rear • Displacement: 2,982 ccm • Output: approx. 300 hp at 7,600 rpm • Top speed: approx. 300 km/h • Wheel base: 2,370 mm • Total length: 4,315 mm
This item is a Pre-Order! That means it is still in production and we do not yet know delivery costs. Delivery costs will not be shown in shopping cart or orders until the item is ready to ship.
Please note that by placing this order your deposit is non-refundable unless the manufacturer cancels production.
Most sixth scale figures come double-boxed automatically when purchased through Secret Compass! Most other dealers will slap a label right on the cardboard shipper and ship that way with no protection. Secret Compass recognizes the value in your collectible figure and we always double-box the cardboard shipper, which comes fresh out of a master case so it shows no sign of shipping before it ships to you.
Because this item still in production, we do not know the final weight or dimensions, or even how many boxes there will be. Therefore, we cannot give you an accurate quote for shipping. Actual shipping rates will be determined when the item is in stock, and will be reflected on your final invoice.
The following are reasonable estimates for shipping based on the size/weight of various figures:
1/6 or 1/10 Scale Figures
Domestic: $20-$30
International: $60-$100
1/4 Scale (Premium Format Figures)
Domestic: $40-$60 per box
International: $100-$180 per box
1/3 Scale (Prime 1)
Domestic: $80-$180 per box
International: $150-$250 per box
1/2 Scale (Prime 1, Legendary Scale)
Domestic: $100-$200 per box
International: $200-$250 per box
Please note that size can vary greatly between different figures, and the above are only estimates based on figures we have seen in the past.
These estimates are by no means a guarantee of your final shipping cost - your final cost could be less or more. In the event that you aren't happy with the shipping costs, please contact us regarding other options, such as you providing your own shipping labels, a local pickup, or palletizing your order together with other figures and sending you freight on a pallet. We will always do our best to help you save money.