Mercedes-Benz pays tribute to Sir Stirling Moss with 300 SLR short film

The story of the 1955 Mille Miglia is one of legend – 1000 miles completed at an average of 99 miles per hour, with the victors over half an hour clear of the next runner.

Piloting a Mercedes-Benz SLR 300, the late Sir Stirling Moss and his navigator Denis Jenkinson departed the starting line in Brescia at 7.22am in car #722, crossing the finish line 10 hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds later, beating legendary driver Juan Manuel Fangio by 32 minutes.

Moss, Jenks and the #722 Mercedes were etched into the history books for their efforts, but all ended up going their separate ways in life – with Jenks passing in 1996 and the world losing Sir Stirling on April 12, 2020, at 90 years of age.

4

Although its pilots have departed, the car itself still survives, and to celebrate the life of its driver, Mercedes has shot a short film titled "The Last Blast" – saying goodbye to the 300 SLR before it departs London for the manufacturer's museum in Stuttgart.

Once asked by a policeman: “Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?”, the 16-time Grand Prix winner replied: “Yes sir, I am”. Such an encounter was not repeated for the filming of the tribute video, although Mercedes nods to the quip among other important moments in Moss's history.

4

Starting at The Temple, the car is given an escort through Central London, going past iconic landmarks, overtaking Sir Stirling’s very own 300 SL “Gullwing” and finally winding up at his home in Mayfair.

Waiting for it is Elliot Moss, son of Stirling, checking his watch to reveal the time – 7.22am.