Windscreens do an important job. It’s only when you drive something like a Morgan Super 3 that you find out how much pain something like a light rain shower or an errant housefly can cause when they impact your forehead at, say, 50mph.
We can’t imagine what they must feel like flat out in a Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, then. Someone will have the chance to find out if they pick up this one-of-75 example, which is up for auction next month. Please, if you buy this car, wear a helmet when you drive it.
Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss – rear
The SLR Stirling Moss was introduced in 2009 as an open-topped speedster version of the standard SLR, Mercedes and McLaren’s jointly-developed take on the ultimate GT car. The Stirling Moss was an homage in both name and looks to the 300SLR racer, which Moss and co-driver Denis Jenkinson drove to a heroic victory at the 1955 Mille Miglia, covering the 992-mile course in a remarkable 10 hours and eight minutes.
The SLR Stirling Moss had the same 5.4-litre supercharged V8 as the SLR 722 Edition, which took power from the original car’s 617bhp to 641bhp. All that power was channelled through a refreshingly simple five-speed automatic gearbox.
Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss – interior
Through the extensive use of carbon fibre (and, y’know, getting rid of the roof and windscreen), the Stirling Moss shed around 200kg of weight from the 722. It’ll manage 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, and attain a top speed of 217mph, at which point the lightest of drizzle presumably feels like being peppered at close range by a paintball gun.
With just 75 produced, it’s one of the rarest derivatives of the SLR McLaren, and easily one of the most valuable among collectors. It’s no surprise, then, that this example, which is being auctioned at RM Sotheby’s Dubai sale on 9 March, has a hefty estimate attached: between £2.35 million and £2.75 million.
Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss – side
It’s finished in a Mercedes special order colour known as Crystal Antimon Grey, with black leather finished with optional red accents. Produced in December 2009 and delivered new to Luxembourg, it’s since been exported to the Middle East. During that time, it has covered 5373 miles, so it should be nicely run in for its next owner. Hopefully, they’ve got their eyeballs insured.
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