"The Last Blast" - the Mercedes 300 SLR "722" in London

Stuttgart. "Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?“That, so the story goes, was once asked by a police officer of the legendary British racing driver about a“ daring ”overtaking maneuver in London. “Yes, I am” was the honest answer. “The Last Blast”, the new short film from Mercedes-Benz Classic, takes up this tradition - and numerous other scenes that are rich in reference to the life and career of Stirling Moss. A motorcycle policeman puts the over-enthusiastic driver of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR in their place, exactly the original vehicle that made Moss' victory at the Mille Miglia in 1955 famous. The camera zooms in on a sticker on the front fender of the motorcycle with the famous question.

Mercedes 300 SLR "722"

With this and as part of a trip through the middle of London escorted by the police, “The Last Blast” celebrates the life of Moss, who died on April 12, 2020 at the age of 90. The film was shot at the end of September 2021 in London, the center of Moss' life for more than 60 years - and at the same time where the Mercedes-Benz racing sports car with the famous starting number "722" has never driven before.

• The famous Mille Miglia victory vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "722", drives past famous landmarks in the heart of London
• Part of a farewell tour before the vehicle returns to the Mercedes-Benz Museum
• Worldwide broadcast of the film on all of the company's social media channels

The silver arrow is the visible protagonist. There is also an invisible one: the former racing driver himself. He and Denis Jenkinson achieved a legendary motorsport victory for the brand in this 300 SLR in May 1955 after the start at 7:22 am in the Italian road race Mille Miglia from Brescia to Rome and back. In honor of Stirling Moss, the company let the in-line eight-cylinder engine roar one last time as it drove through London before the vehicle returned to its permanent location in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

The result is a moving three and a half minute film. The tour starts early on a Sunday morning at The Temple. It leads past the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, the Royal Automobile Club and the hotel "The Ritz", en route "722" meets exactly the 300 SL "Gullwing" with which Moss drove to the 1995 Mille Miglia. The journey ends in front of Moss' private home in the Mayfair district. There Elliot Moss stands in front of the door and looks at the watch on his wrist that his father had worn for many years: The 300 SLR rolls out at exactly 7:22 a.m., the original start time of Moss and Jenkinson at the Mille Miglia and therefore the start number of the racing car. One turn of the ignition key, the engine cuts out.

In this way, Mercedes-Benz Classic honors and thanks Sir Stirling Moss for his decades of service to the brand. And also his family, who reliably supported the racing driver - as well as this film project in person.

Factsheet "The Last Blast"

• Cinematic staging and production
  • Drive through London in the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S)
  • Tribute to Sir Stirling Moss and "his" 300 SLR with starting number 722 in the 1955 Mille Miglia
  • numerous related scenes and drive-bys about the life and work of the British racing driver
  • At the same time, the original racing car's farewell tour before it comes back to the Mercedes-Benz Museum - the 300 SLR previously made guest appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the British Grand Prix and the Goodwood Revival in 2021
• Elaborate film work
  • Film shooting on a Sunday morning with around 50 people involved
  • 8 motorcycle policemen on duty
  • renowned production companies INP Media Limited and Samuelson Wylie Associates with extensive Hollywood and action film experience
  • Helicopter shots, carried out by an aerial photography team from the James Bond environment, also known for flying under Tower Bridge in the film for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games
  • Preparation of the 300 SLR by Mercedes-Benz Classic
  • Special permits for trucks to enter London
• Playout 
  • Planned channels: TV and the established worldwide Mercedes-Benz social media channels

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Farewell to a legend: The short film "The Last Blast" shows the unique journey of the famous 300 SLR "722" through London in honor of Sir Stirling Moss
Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz

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