inside the mercedes-benz SLR mclaren stirling moss, a supercar built without a windshield

a mercedes-benz with no roof or windshield

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss is a rare sight, especially in this bright Fire Opal Red finish. Built in a series of just 75 cars, the unusual two-seater has an exceptionally long hood, a low body, and an open cockpit with neither a roof nor a conventional windshield. Two sculpted humps rise behind the seats to give the car a profile that recalls the racing machines of the 1950s.

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren introduced the Stirling Moss in 2009 as a tribute to British racing driver Stirling Moss and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR he drove to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia. The original was a lightweight, open-top race car built to compete on public roads through Italy. More than half a century later, its distinctive design inspired this modern interpretation, developed toward the end of the Mercedes-Benz and McLaren partnership. RM Sotheby’s is auctioning the speedster, with an estimate exceeding 6 million USD.

the long hood and sculpted body recall a 1950s race car

Much of the Stirling Moss’s character comes from its proportions. The hood stretches far ahead of the two seats, while the rear of the car is relatively short. Small transparent wind deflectors offer some protection for the occupants, and the raised forms behind their heads incorporate protective roll hoops. Viewed from the side, the entire car sits ultra-close to the ground.

There are plenty of details to discover along the bodywork, too. Large openings behind the front wheels house the exhaust outlets, which release gases directly from the sides of the car. Its doors open upward, while the front is shaped around a low Mercedes-Benz emblem and wide air intakes. Much of the body is made from carbon fiber, which helps to keep the car lightweight despite its substantial length.

650 horsepower in a completely open cockpit

Under the enormous hood lurks a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine producing 650 horsepower. That’s enough to send the Stirling Moss from zero to 62 mph in under 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 217 mph. Without a full windshield separating the driver from the outside air, the experience would be especially intense. The small wind deflectors and exposed seating position are part of the car’s connection to its racing predecessor.

Inside, the two red leather seats are divided by a tall silver center console, with matching red trim extending across the dashboard. Yellow stitching adds a contrasting detail to the seats, while the steering wheel and circular air vents are familiar from other Mercedes-Benz models of the period. The open cockpit also makes the interior unusually visible from outside, so its colors and materials become part of the overall design.

the last of 75 stirling moss cars wears a one-of-a-kind red finish

This particular Stirling Moss is the very last of the 75 examples produced, completed in December 2009 for the Royal Family of Kuwait. Its Fire Opal Red paint is unique among the series, whose silver examples are more closely associated with the Mercedes-Benz racing tradition. The matching red interior features a woven material called Alutex in place of the usual carbon fiber trim, along with a rare Kenwood audio system.

After spending much of its life in royal ownership, the car has now resurfaced through RM Sotheby’s, showing just 32.9 miles on its odometer. Its estimated value exceeds $6 million. Even among today’s increasingly elaborate supercars, the Stirling Moss remains an unusual piece of automotive design, with its roofless silhouette and distinctive twin humps drawing directly from a racing car built more than 70 years ago.

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project info:

name: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz, McLaren

design: Yoon Il-hun