India’s most famous Mercedes-Benz SL: The iconic ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ car in images
Bollywood films and sports cars have shared a longstanding and deeply intertwined relationship. When a movie’s superstar needs to make a grand and impactful entrance, sports and luxury cars are often the vehicle of choice. This trend was particularly prevalent during the 2000s. Recently, several images of one of the most iconic sports cars featured in one of Bollywood’s legendary movies made an appearance at a show. If you’re wondering which car we’re referring to, it’s the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-24 from the movie “Dil Chahta Hai.”
These images of the famed car, featured in a film starring three of Bollywood’s biggest stars, were shared on Facebook. Car Crazy India shared the pictures of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-24 in its distinctive blue color, showcased in front of a picturesque photo booth. The final image in the post captures this iconic hardtop convertible in action during the movie.
Dil Chahta Hai
For those who may not be familiar, “Dil Chahta Hai” was an immensely popular and influential Bollywood movie. The film starred Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshay Khanna and revolved around the friendship of three college friends. After completing their college education, they pursued different paths in life but later reunited for a transformative road trip. The movie resonated with a generation navigating the complexities of life, relationships, and self-discovery. “Dil Chahta Hai” stands as one of the highest-rated and most beloved Indian Bollywood movies, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-24
Now, turning our attention to the car featured in these pictures, it’s the very same vehicle driven by the three friends in the movie – the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-24, to be precise. This 300 SL is part of the R129 generation of the model and stands as one of the most successful models in the German luxury carmaker’s history.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-24 showcased in the movie and pictured here boasts a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine under the hood. This hardtop sports car is capable of delivering a robust 231 bhp and 272 Nm of torque. It comes equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and features a rear-wheel-drive layout.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
In the realm of Mercedes 300 SL, there’s some remarkable news to share. One of the rarest variants of this iconic sports car, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, made headlines last year by fetching an astonishing price of $143 million. RM Sotheby’s, the renowned Canadian auction house, proudly announced the successful sale of this car, which secured its place as the world’s most expensive car ever sold at an auction.
RM Sotheby’s orchestrated the auction of the 300 SLR, which commanded a staggering €135,000,000 or $143 million. This extraordinary vehicle, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, was one of just two prototypes ever constructed by the Mercedes-Benz racing division.
An anonymous private automotive collector placed the winning bid of €135 million ($143 million) for this Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. This exceptional car shattered the previous record for the most expensive car sold at auction, a title previously held by the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in 2018. The Mercedes prototype race car surpassed the prior record by an astonishing €90 million ($95 million). The incredible 300 SLR was built upon the foundation of the highly acclaimed and successful W 196 R Grand Prix vehicle, which secured two World Championships under the skilled hands of Juan Manuel Fangio.
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