The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W196S) was a 2-seater sports car that participated in the World Championship of Sport cars before a catastrophic accident and fire at Le Mans ended its domain prematurely.

Designated "SL-R" (for Sport Leicht-Rennen, eng: Sport Light Racing, later condensed to "SLR"), the 3-liter engine was derived from the Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula 1 driver. He shared most of his powertrains and chassis with the 2,496.87 cm3 of straight displacement and fuel injection of the 196 cylinder engine and stroked 2,981.70 cc and increased to 310 bhp (230 kW).

The W196's single-seat driving position has been modified for standard two-seater seats, headlights have been added and some other changes have been made to adapt a strictly track competitor to a 24-hour track / track sports race.

Two of the nine 300 SLR rolling chassis produced were converted into 300 SLR / 300 SL hybrids. Legal corridors effectively road, they had coupe style, gull wing doors and a footprint halfway between the two models.

When Mercedes canceled its racing program after the Le Mans disaster, the hybrid project was shelved. The company's head of design, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, architect of the 300 SLR and hybrids, appropriated one of the remaining mules as his personal driver. Capable of approaching 290 km / h (180 mph), the Uhlenhaut Coupé was by far the fastest road car in the world in its day.