During the war Rudolph Uhlenhaut worked for Daimler-Benz designing components for aircraft engines. After hostilities had ended, Unhlenhaut founded a trucking business using gas powered ex-army trucks to transport goods. Fast forward to 1948 and Uhlenhaut was back at Mercedes and by 1952, had designed the W194 “300SL” sports car. This of course led to what many describe as one of the most beautiful road cars ever, the 300SL Gullwing.

Uhlenhaut also tested every racing car and despite never competing, gained a reputation as being very quick even beating lap times set by Juan Manuel Fangio himself. Uhlenhaut’s biggest project came with the now legendary W196S 300SLR which Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson used to win the 1955 Mille Miglia.

The SLR also clinched victories at the Ulster TT and that year’s Targa Florio. However, the 300 SLR’s darkest hour was at Le Mans in 1955 where Mercedes driver Pierre Levegh hurtled into the crowd killing 83 spectators.

Prior to this, Uhlenhaut had secured two of the nine W196S chassis built to build road legal versions of 300SLR. Hence, the 300SLR “Uhlenhaut” Coupe was born. With a widened and lengthen body, it retained the gullwing doors from the 300 SLR. Underneath, it was all race car, retaining the 2.5L straight eight with 228kW and 311Nm of torque. Top speed was rated at 290km/h, making the Uhlenhaut Coupe the fastest car of its day.