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Jun 02, 2023

10 Rarest Mercedes Cars In Existence

These ultra-rare Mercedes models are not just automotive works of art, but they're some of the rarest cars to wear the prestigious three-pointed star Many car enthusiasts dream of owning a Mercedes

These ultra-rare Mercedes models are not just automotive works of art, but they're some of the rarest cars to wear the prestigious three-pointed star

Many car enthusiasts dream of owning a Mercedes because the brand is known for its luxury, reliability, and safety. It has become a status symbol to be behind the wheel of this German-engineered vehicle. Aside from the opulence that comes with the name, buying a Mercedes-Benz means getting your hands on a well-built luxury car that can go beyond expectations.

Devoted to the craft of manufacturing cars, Mercedes-Benz is known for the perfect blend of artistry and innovative engineering. When you step on that accelerator, it will evoke emotions nothing else on the street will. Yes, these cars with three-point star emblems on their hood make you feel. They make cars that are not just powerful and fast, but they are machines that perform, trigger nostalgic feelings, and make you experience something extraordinary.

While buying a Mercedes is an attainable goal, there are the rarest Mercedes cars, that most of us ordinary beings can only ogle at and dream of. These rare Mercedes for sale are some of the most expensive Mercedes you can find on the planet. And even if you can afford it, these vehicles can be likened to art masterpieces that are quite elusive. Below are some of the rarest Mercedes cars in existence. Each vehicle holds immense value because of its unique design, historical significance, and limited production runs.

We gathered information from Mercedes, Bonhams, Gooding & Company, and other auction companies to create this list of the rarest Mercedes cars today. We also consulted reputable websites like TopGear and Car And Driver.

RELATED: 10 Cool Cars That Are AMG's Best-Kept Secrets

If you have the bank account to support a lavish lifestyle of sports cars, you can quickly get behind one today. In the 1920s, those dreaming of owning a fast car had limited options. The Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/180 Sports Tourer was the closest to a race car back then. However, those who could spend more than $7,000 for it needed a good dose of luck because the car manufacturer only built 146 samples between 1927 and 1928. Some sources say as many as 174 units rolled off the factory.

Production

1927 to 1928

Units Produced

Less than 175

Unique Features

On-demand Roots-type Supercharger Bought without coachwork

Displacement

6.8 Liters

Power

120 Horsepower (Actual) 180 Horsepower (When supercharged)

This highly automotive gem ruled the newly-opened Nürburgring, setting the fastest time and finishing first in its class at the Batschari Challenge Trophy and the Baden-Baden Automobile Tournament in 1927.

If you’re wondering about the numbers on the classic car’s name, they signified the Sports Tourer's horsepower: 26 for taxable horsepower, 120 for actual horsepower, and 180 for horsepower when you fully push down on the pedal and engage the Roots-type supercharger of the 6.8-liter inline-six engine. This pre-war Mercedes-Benz S-Type commands eye-popping prices. One Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/180 Sports Tourer was sold for $5.4 Million in 2021.

Another vehicle to add to your garage if you want to scream that you’re on top of the food chain is the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet. This much-coveted G-Wagen is ultra-rare with only 99 units produced and not one was officially sent to the United States.

Production

2017

Units Produced

99

Unique Features

Convertible rear half

Displacement

Six Liters

Power

630 Horsepower

This top-notch off-roader was built to survive the most rugged road conditions while making sure you’re all posh inside. Under the hood of the G 650 Laundaulet is a six-liter V-12 bi-turbo that produces 630 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. It can go from a standstill to 60 MPH in less than six seconds and can hit a top speed of 112 MPH. It also uses the portal axles from the G 500 4x42 to ensure it can crawl on any surface.

The Maybach-made interior boasts plenty of tech, well-bolstered seats with massage functions, and entertainment screens. The rear cabin of this rare Mercedes is convertible with a fabric roof that you can open with a push of a button. The original tag price for this luxe road beast was set at around $754,000, but considering its rarity, a Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet can easily go for $1.8 million.

The last version of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is the Stirling Moss Edition, named after the legendary British race car driver. This ultra-rare version of the supercar is around 440 pounds lighter than the stock SLR McLaren. This is primarily due to the unique body design of the vehicle that uses a good amount of carbon fiber.

Production

2009

Units Produced

75

Unique Features

No roof and windshield but can hit a top speed of 217 MPH

Displacement

5.5 Liters

Power

641 Horsepower

The ride is a tribute to the 300 SLR McLaren that ruled the Mille Miglia rally in 1955 is powered by a 5.5-liter V-8 engine that produces 641 horses. The supercharged block can bring the car to a top speed of close to 220 MPH. This special edition SLR McLaren has no roof, no windshield, and an interior that’s a bare minimum.

By the bare minimum, we refer to its racing heritage, but Mercedes spruced it up with leather and carbon fiber here and there. There’s also that aluminum plate on the shift lever that shows off the signature of Stirling Moss. Originally priced at around $1 million, an SLR McLaren Stirling Moss sample can easily fetch around $2.5 million when it crosses an auction block.

RELATED: The Real Difference Between Mercedes And Maybach

The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 45th Anniversary Edition embodies the claim to driving performance of AMG. And on its 45th birthday, the luxury car brand produced 45 units to celebrate its success. All units were sold even before Mercedes unveiled the vehicle. Designers sprayed the rare Mercedes with a new paint dubbed designo magno graphite. The gray matte finish of the ride enhances the sexy contours of the aluminum body.

Production

2013

Units Produced

45

Unique Features

Designo Magno graphite paint exclusive to the limited edition SL65 AMG

Displacement

Six Liters

Power

621 Horsepower

The SL65 AMG 45th Anniversary Edition looks good and its specs sheet is equally impressive. The roadster sports a V-12 twin-turbo block that produces 621 horsepower and a torque of 737 pound-feet. This is the same engine used for the standard SL65 AMG. A seven-speed automatic transmission sends the engine's power to the rear wheels. A good sample of the 45th Anniversary Edition SL 65 AMG recently crossed the block in the U.K. and sold for about $137,000.

With private race enthusiasts in mind, Mercedes built a lighter version of the 300 SL Gullwing. Called the “Leichtmetallausführung,” which translates to Light Metal Version, the Alloy Gullwing version replaced steel with aluminum for the car’s bodywork. Mercedes also used plexiglass to shed about 209 pounds. Only 29 samples of these bred-for-competition cars rolled out of the factory between 1955 (24 units) and 1956 (5 units), making the 300 SL Alloy Gullwing special edition one of the rarest Mercedes cars ever made.

Production

1955 to 1956

Units Produced

29

Unique Features

Alloy body

Displacement

Three Liters

Power

215 Horsepower

Considered one of the most highly-desired samples in the automotive collectors’ circle, this Silver Arrow is powered by an inline-six three-liter engine that produces 215 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Linked to a four-speed manual gearbox, the powerplant can push the vehicle to 60 MPH from a standstill in 8.8 seconds. The 21st of the 29 examples of the holy grail among Gullwings was sold in 2022 for a little over $5 million.

With the aim to get back in GT1 Class racing, Mercedes rushed to build the CLK GTR race car in collaboration with AMG. In order to meet the requirements of the FIA, they also had to build and sell at least 25 road versions of the CLK GTR. The tandem produced drawings of the original CLK GTR designs, refined them using CAD, and produced 3D models using clay.

They were able to make 20 coupes and 25 roadsters. The 128-day rush translated to success on the racetrack, as the partnership resulted in raking in 6 wins of the 11 FIA GT rounds in 1997. A road version won the CLK GTR won all races the following year.

Production

1997

Units Produced

25

Unique Features

Race-spec road car

Displacement

6.9 Liters

Power

604 Horsepower

Mercedes and AMG built a car that prioritized form over function to achieve the performance they needed. The 6.9-liter V-12 engine was mounted in the middle and paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox. The naturally aspirated engine churns out 604 horsepower and 572 pound-feet of torque and can bring the car to 62 MPH in just 3.8 seconds. RM Sotheby’s sold one of these extraordinarily rare speed rockets for $4.515 million in 2021.

RELATED: 10 Things That Makes The W140 The Coolest Mercedes S-Class Ever

For the post-war racing era, Mercedes ruled the tracks with the W196 Silver Arrow equipped with a 2.5-liter straight-eight engine. Driven by legendary race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio, the Silver Arrows won the German and Swiss races in succession during the 1954 Grand Prix season.

Production

1954

Units Produced

14 (including prototypes)

Unique Features

Fuel-injected engine

Displacement

2.5 Liters

Power

257 to 290 Horsepower

Built according to the specifications of the racing governing body, Mercedes introduced some firsts in F1 racing. These include the fuel-injected engine, all-independent suspension, and lay-down configuration of the engine to lower the car’s height, among others.

The engine of the Silver Arrow was more modest than its pre-war predecessor at 257 to 290 horsepower, but it was faster. It was also easier to control. It was tamer than its supercharged predecessor, but it behaved piously during races. A Mercedes W196 Silver Arrow sold for $29.6 million when it crossed the auction block in 2013.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo is an insane supercar that was commissioned by Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo video game, for GT6. Mercedes unveiled a full-scale model of the vehicle without an engine at the LA Motor Show in 2013. For the game, Vision GT sports a twin-turbocharged V-8 that cranks out 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The voluptuous car was designed to have a weight distribution of 46 to 54 percent for the front and rear, respectively.

Production

2013 (Reported)

Units Produced

5

Unique Features

Aluminum frame and body

Displacement

6.2 Liters

Power

591 horsepower

Florida-based J & S Worldwide Holdings reportedly planned to build five units of the Vision Gran Turismo, each with a price tag of $1.5 million. The company allegedly wanted to use the SLS AMG GT edition as the base car to bring the concept car to life and will have a 6.2-liter V-8 that produces 591 horsepower.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is another legendary vehicle that any car collector will do anything to have. This hardtop version of the SLR race car was not used in racing but served as a company car for the head of the test department Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Thus, the nickname.

Production

1955

Units Produced

2

Unique Features

Elektron Body over Steel Tubular Space Frame

Displacement

Three Liters

Power

302 Horsepower

The car's design features an elongated hood, aggressive body lines, side-mounted pipes, and an elegantly sculptured windshield. While it’s considered a work of art, this tourer is a capable one. The automotive Mona Lisa features a three-liter naturally-aspirated inline-eight that produces 302 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 6.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 182 MPH.

In 2022, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe became the most expensive car in the world, selling for $142 million when it was sold at an auction during a special event at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart.

RELATED: Here’s What Makes The Mercedes-Benz W124 A Legend Among Legends

The Mercedes-Benz 230 SL officially debuted in the first quarter of 1963. The Pagoda, as it is fondly called, was designed by Paul Bracq and lived up to the highest standards you can expect from the Mercedes garage that featured the SL badge. However, weeks after the launch of the W113, Torino coachbuilder Pininfarina approached the German carmaker with the idea of producing a 230 SL Coupe. Pininfarina tapped the services of Tom Tjaarda, who was the brain behind the beautiful Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 then.

Production

1964

Units Produced

1

Unique Features

Coachwork by Pininfarina

Displacement

2.3 Liters

Power

146 Horsepower

Tjaarda gave the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pininfarina Coupe a reimagined fascia with a more distinct forward lean. The sides featured thin A and C pillars, and more pronounced angles, and the rear directed the eyes to diminutive taillights and a three-piece bumper. Inside, the Pininfarina team gave the one-off vehicle a more sophisticated look using premium materials.

While winning tons of praise during the Paris and Torino Motor Shows, the German carmaker did not give the coupe a go to hit the assembly line. The only Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pininfarina Coupe in the world sold for $1.215 million in 2022 at the Pebble Beach Auctions.

Randell loves car simulation games, drives a diesel, and is fascinated with electric vehicles. He finds long drives meditative and loves out-of-town trips with his wife and family. He's been an online media professional for 15 years, covering cars, technology, science, health, among others.