I don’t think you know that much about the background to these cars.
They are derived from the all-conquering F1 W196R of the Fangio and Moss era. The open top versions (the 300 SLR) were used in the legendary 1955 Mille Miglia, they were the fastest thing on the road and represented the absolute pinnacle of a team at the height of their powers. It was also the end of that era after the Le Mans disaster of 1955 when a 300SLR crashed and killed 81 spectators.
So the F1 car was legendary, driven by a legend (Fangio). The 300SLR version was legendary, driven by a legend (Moss) in a legendary race (the 1955 Mille Miglia) and was involved in the worst crash in motorsport history which saw Mercedes withdraw from motorsport entirely and ensured that the road-going coupe version of the 300SLR was still-born, The program was cancelled and these two examples are all that were ever made of what would have been the worlds first supercar.
I disagree. I know the background of the cars. To me they are nothing more than go-nowhere derivatives. You said it yourself - “…would have been the worlds first supercar.” But they weren’t, so they aren’t.
It’s okay to disagree but you’re thinking the car is fugly is unlikely to change the opinion of those (self included) who think the car is gorgeous. It couldn’t be built for road travel or racing now, due to safety regulations so why get bothered? Would I like to see that sum of money be used for something better? Sure. But the car still has historical and artistical merit. If someone wants to pay a fortune to preserve that, they can be my guest. It’s their money.
If you know about their background then I’m baffled as to why you think they are insignificant.
“derivative” is doing a lot of dismissive work there. It was derived from one of the greatest and most desired F1 cars, Further derived from one of the greatest roadsters. The family of vehicles that spawned it are all legendary, as were the drivers and the victories (and the disasters).
The history plus the rarity are central to why it commands that high price.
The nearest modern equivalent was the Maclaren F1, built at the height of Maclaren’s success it is far more common (100 built versus 2), did not derive from an F1 car (now just imagine if it were a road-going MP4/4!), does not have the attachment of famous races or famous drivers, they were actually offered for sale to the public, examples have auctioned regularly since (the Ehlenhaut had never been offered for sale and only one is potentially in the open market now).
Now the top price for an F1 was north of $20million so is it any wonder that the Merc is far in excess of that?
I voted 8. I think it looks great, but I prefer the production 300SL Gullwing, and the fact is the Brits and Italians were designing from amazing looking cars at the time. I’d take the same year Bentley Continental R-type over this all day long.
It’s rare, certainly, but the curb appeal isn’t that great, IMO. I’d take a 1938 Talbot Lago or a '39 Delahaye over that, or hell, even a '39 Lincoln Zephyr.