Sir Stirling Moss’s Mille Miglia-winning Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, the legendary number “722”, has driven through the heart of London one last time for a special “The Last Blast” short film by Mercedes-Benz Classic.
The film was conceived to honour the late Sir Stirling Moss and his life time of extraordinary achievements, plus his connection to one of the famous race cars of all time.
The legendary Mercedes was filmed on a Sunday morning at the end of September in central London, with around 50 cast and crew involved along with eight police motorcycle outriders. The shoot was carried out by renowned production advisers INP Media Limited and Samuelson Wylie Associates, who have considerable experience with Hollywood action movie.
Sequences were also captured using a helicopter flown by a team known for their aerial work for the James Bond franchise, as well as for flying under Tower Bridge for the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony film.
“The Last Blast” short film was also a farewell tour for the 300 SLR racing sports car before it returns to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, after it had made memorable guest appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the British Grand Prix and the Goodwood Revival in 2021, where it lead the moving memorial parade to the late racing driver.
There are numerous references to stand out moments in Stirling’s career in the film as it drives through his beloved home city where he lived for 60 years. Despite its connection with the racing legend, this was the 300 SLR’s first drive on the streets of London and it made for a moving tribute.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR is of course famous for winning the 1955 Mille Miglia with Stirling Moss at the wheel and his navigator Denis Jenkinson by his side. The road race from Brescia to Rome and back was heralded as the finest of all time and one of Stirling’s greatest ever victories.
And it is in Moss’s honour that Mercedes had the straight-eight engine howl for one last blast on a drive across central London before the car is retired, returning to its permanent home in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
The result is a moving three-and-a-half minutes of film. The starting point of the drive, very early one Sunday morning, is The Temple. It then takes in the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, the Royal Automobile Club and the The Ritz hotel. On the way, “722” passes what was Sir Stirling’s very own 300 SL “Gullwing” – the car in which he travelled from London to the Mille Miglia in 1955.
Its drive through the city ends in front of Moss’s own home in a Mayfair mews. There, his son, Elliot Moss, stands in front of the door and looks at the watch on his wrist, which his father wore for many years. It’s exactly 7:22 am, the original start time of Moss and Jenkinson’s Mille Miglia entry and the reason for the car’s racing number. The 300 SLR rolls to a halt one final time, and its engine is switched off.
This is Mercedes-Benz Classic’s tribute and thanks to Sir Stirling Moss who dedicated decades of service to the brand. And also to his family, for the unwavering support they showed him, and for their personal involvement in this very special film project.
Watch “The Last Blast” short film
Watch the behind the scenes of filming “The Last Blast”