Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Driving 1000 Miglia Is A Once In A Lifetime

Mercedes-Benz is offering a unique experience to customers at the 1000 Miglia 2024 in Italy. Three lucky customers can drive an original Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe from the brand’s Classic vehicle collection.
 

The 300 SL Coupe is one of the most iconic cars of all time, easily recognizable by its distinct gullwing doors. It is powered by a 3.0-liter M196 inline-six capable of generating up to 215 horsepower from the factory. Sir Stirling Moss and co-driver Denis Jenkinson won the 1955 edition of the Mille Miglia in the 300 SLR and set the best time of 10 hours, seven minutes, and 48 seconds, which wouldn’t be broken anytime soon.
 
That’s because the 1,000-mile road race was discontinued after a Ferrari 335 S killed its drivers and a bunch of spectators in 1957. It was revived in 1977, but as a regularity rally (traveling each leg in a prescribed time, not as fast as possible), so even customers could grace the historical event.
 
As for Mercedes-Benz’s offer, a racing driver will accompany the customer in the passenger seat as their navigator, helping them negotiate the routes like an expert and providing necessary assistance should anything untoward happen.
 

In completing the race, you’d be following in the footsteps of Sir Stirling Moss and Rudolf Caracciola, both of whom claimed victories in their time. Caracciola was first when he claimed victory in 1931 behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz SSKL – the original Silver Arrow – becoming the first driver from outside of Italy to win the overall race.
 
Thereafter, customers will also get a chance to attend a test drive weekend in Stuttgart and receive comprehensive technical and organizational support.
 
The prestigious experience, however, doesn’t come cheap. The starting price to secure a seat in a 300 SL for the 1000 Miglia 2024 is €150,000 (around $161,519 in current exchange rates), which is more expensive than a brand-new Mercedes-AMG SL 55 Roadster, the 300SL’s spiritual descendant. Should the number of interested parties exceed the available slots (which we have no doubt it will, Mercedes reserves the right to decide who they accept.
 
The 1000 Miglia 2024 will set off from Brescia on June 11 and conclude on June 15.