Driving the Mille Miglia in a gullwing? You can, but it costs at least 150,000 euros

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL - Driving the Mille Miglia in a gullwing? You can, but it costs at least 150,000 euros

Since 1977, the Mille Miglia Storica has been considered perhaps the most beautiful drive in the world. Cruising for days through the most picturesque areas of Italy, enjoying good food and even better wine - that's the way to live. As the icing on the cake, even for non-participants, you also get to see exclusive classic cars that have been specially dressed up for the tour.

Originally, the Mille Miglia was a genuine car race on public roads. Today it is more of a nice tour for tourists. But while the pace has slowed down considerably, the route remains the same: the race starts in Brescia in the north of Italy. The route then heads towards Tuscany via Genoa, past Castiglione della Peschaia and Grosseto towards Rome. On the way back, the participants cycle through Siena and Prato to Bologna and finally along the shores of Lake Garda back to Brescia. Total duration: five days.

If you want to get behind the wheel yourself, you need a vehicle model that took part in the "original" Mille Miglia between 1927 and 1957. Or - and this is somehow good news, albeit for a few - a lot of money. Because as part of the "Mille Miglia Experience Classic", Mercedes-Benz wants to enable three people to join the historic motorcade through Italy in one of the most expensive classic cars in the world.

215 hp for 150,000 euros

According to the manufacturer, it is providing three gullwing cars, also known as the 300 SL, for the upcoming excursion. The "complete package" including rental car includes all logistics, technical support and a weekend to try out the car. The price: 150,000 euros before tax.

If this seems like an appropriate Christmas present, you have the chance to apply from mid-January to mid-February. If more than three people express interest, the decision will be made by drawing lots. Theoretically, anyone between the ages of 25 and 80 who has passed a medical examination and has held a driving license for at least four years is eligible to take part.

At this rather special car rental company, you get the rare opportunity to drive the fastest sports car of its time - and the "sports car of the century" according to the results of a survey by Motor Klassik. With 215 hp, the 300 SL is still one of the more sporty vehicles today - even if a VW Polo as a GTI also offers such performance nowadays.

Depending on the model, an original vehicle from the series is available from around one million euros. The classic Gullwing is around 1.5 million. It becomes extremely expensive if you want to buy one of the extremely rare lightweight sports cars. Although the lightweight metal body was probably a comparatively inexpensive extra when ordering, only 29 customers bought one. Such vehicles are priced at around five million euros.

The most expensive car in the world

It is also a 300 SL that holds the current record for the most expensive car in the world. The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, named after its creator and chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, was only built twice from Protoytp in 1955 and is therefore an irreplaceable rarity. In May 2022, one example was sold directly by Mercedes-Benz for 135 million euros. The second car remains in the manufacturer's possession and is part of the in-house museum.

Anyone who has a classic car with a star and wants to compete in the Mille Miglia can also do so together with Mercedes-Benz. Starting at 15,000 euros, the manufacturer will help with any technical problems during the outing. If you take everything into your own hands, the costs for all certificates, entry fees and accommodation can be estimated at around 10,000 euros, as reported by"Auto Motor und Sport" some time ago.