Latest news with #W196R
ArabGT
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
A Record €51M for a Formula 1 masterpiece Mercedes W196R
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, seeking funds to upgrade its facilities and preserve its extensive collection, made the bold decision to part with one of its most prized exhibits. The 1954 Mercedes W196R, which claimed victory at the Argentine Grand Prix, was among the most historically significant racing cars in existence. Unlike traditional auctions held at prestigious venues like Paris, Pebble Beach, or Dubai, this rare sale took place in a closed, invitation-only event at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Bidders were required to pre-register, and only a select group of elite collectors were invited to participate. After 14 minutes of intense bidding, auctioneer Sholto Gilbertson brought down the hammer at €46.5 million, with buyer's premiums and taxes pushing the final sale price to €51.15 million. The winning bid was placed over the phone, and the identity of the buyer remains confidential. Breaking Records and Making History The previous record for the most expensive Grand Prix race car sold at auction was held by another Fangio-driven 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196, which sold for $29.6 million in 2013. However, the absolute highest price ever paid for a car remains €135 million, set in 2022 by the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé—a road-going version of a race car that never competed. Despite high expectations, some experts speculated that the W196R could have exceeded €60 million, but the final €51.15 million remains an unprecedented achievement for a Formula 1 Grand Prix car. The Engineering Masterpiece That Defined an Era Developed to comply with new Formula 1 regulations introduced in 1954, the W196R revolutionized the sport with its advanced M196 inline-8 engine, originally producing 257 horsepower, later refined to 290 horsepower over two seasons. The 5-speed manual transmission, coupled with a rear-mounted single-disc dry clutch, contributed to the car's dominance in European circuits and early Formula 1 seasons. The chassis number 00009/54, now the most expensive Grand Prix car ever sold, started its racing life as an open-wheel model, with Fangio driving it in a non-points race in Buenos Aires in 1954. It was later modified into a streamliner version for the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Moss took the wheel. Following the 1955 season, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from competitive racing after the tragic 1955 Le Mans disaster, in which Pierre Levegh's 300 SLR crashed into the grandstands, resulting in one of the deadliest accidents in motorsport history. The W196R was later gifted to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965, where it remained for six decades before being auctioned. RM Sotheby's emphasized that this W196R is the only known example in private hands, solidifying its status as one of the rarest and most coveted collector's cars in history. Its exclusivity, combined with its storied racing legacy, makes it far more than just a display piece—it is a true automotive treasure. Even Mercedes-Benz and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum remain unaware of the buyer's identity, as confidentiality is paramount in such high-stakes transactions. Beyond its historical significance, this acquisition represents a remarkable investment opportunity. Vintage race cars with a prestigious motorsport pedigree, especially those associated with legends like Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, have consistently appreciated in value over time. Given the record-breaking sale of the Uhlenhaut Coupé in 2022 and the surging demand for ultra-rare automobiles, the W196R is poised to become an even more valuable asset in the years to come. This historic transaction cements the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R as an automotive icon, disappearing into an unknown collector's vault, where it will remain a symbol of racing heritage and engineering excellence.
New York Times
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Most expensive F1 car sold at auction? 1954 Mercedes streamliner could exceed $52m
A Mercedes once driven by Formula One greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss 70 years ago could become the most expensive grand prix car in history when it is auctioned this weekend. Auctioneers RM Sotheby's are selling the 1954 Mercedes W196 R on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and have priced it in excess of 50 million euros (£41 million and $52 million at current conversion rates). Should it meet the target price, the car would become the second-most expensive car sold at auction, according to Reuters. It would also surpass the $29.6 million paid in 2013 for a 1954 Mercedes W196 R (also driven by Fangio), currently the most expensive F1 car sold at auction. The W196 R heralded Mercedes' return to racing for the first time since World War II and was the car Fangio drove in two of his five world championship-winning seasons. With the W196 R, Mercedes won nine of the 12 F1 points events entered and enjoyed 11 victories in 14 starts. One of four complete models in existence, this particular W196 R has been at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum since 1965. Advertisement On its debut at the 1954 French Grand Prix, the W196 R's appearance 'inspired awe, looking unlike anything anyone had ever seen before in a Formula One race,' Sotheby's writes. Mercedes achieved a 1-2 finish in that race, and the Silver Arrows became the dominant team on the track as Fangio won the drivers' title, ruining Ferrari's hopes of a third straight championship. The world constructors' championship, however, did not yet exist. The car being auctioned in Stuttgart this weekend, chassis number 00009/54, entered testing in December 1954 and made its race debut with Fangio at the wheel at the Buenos Aires GP a month later. As it wasn't an F1 event, there were no championship points to contend for, but Fangio nevertheless went on to win by recording the lowest total time over two 30-lap heats. In September of that year, at the Italian GP, chassis number 00009/54 competed on the track for the last time, with Moss driving and recording the fastest lap of the race in Monza. Fangio won the race with team-mate Piero Taruffi second. It was a final 1-2 Mercedes finish before it left the sport only to return as a constructor in 2010.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-01-2025
- Automotive
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Mercedes 1955 ‘Streamliner' Set to Smash F1 Record at Auction
A sleek, long-nosed Mercedes raced by Stirling Moss and five-times Formula One world champion Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955 could become the most expensive grand prix car of all time at an auction in Stuttgart on Saturday. The W196 R Stromlinienwagen ("Streamline car"), one of only four complete examples in existence, is being sold by RM Sotheby's on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) at a target price of more than 50 million euros ($52 million). If it meets the estimate, it would also be the second costliest car ever sold at auction after a 1955 Mercedes 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe sportscar that changed hands for 135 million euros in May 2022. The most expensive grand prix car sold at auction to date was another ex-Fangio 1954 Mercedes W196 that fetched $29.6 million at Goodwood in 2013. The IMS car is the first streamline-bodied W196 R to become available for private ownership and, in its open-wheel form, was driven to victory by Fangio at the non-championship Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1955. Moss raced it with the streamline body at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, retiring after setting the fastest lap at an average speed of 215.7 kph. Mercedes withdrew from factory-sponsored motorsport in 1955 after a Le Mans 24 Hours disaster that killed 84 people, returning to Formula One as an engine maker in 1994. The car is presented in its Monza livery with full documentation. "Without any doubt, it's the most beautiful race car in the world and ever. Nothing can compare. It's simply a masterpiece of style and design," Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz heritage, told Reuters Television. "It is very fast. The top speed is actually above and beyond 300 kph. "I wouldn't expect that it's too much of an effort to get it back to driving condition. And we gladly will offer whoever buys the car to do it for them." The car, chassis number 00009/54, was donated to the IMS by Mercedes in 1965 and is being sold to raise funds for the museum's restoration efforts. The Indianapolis museum, which is aiming to become more US-focused, is selling a total of 11 cars from its collection at three separate auctions this year. The Mercedes "Silver Arrows" dominated the immediate pre- and post World War Two era of grand prix racing with the W196 R a world-beater in 1954 and 1955. The streamlined bodywork with enclosed wheels was used at high-speed circuits, with the open-wheeled version favored for more twisty tracks.
Reuters
28-01-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Mercedes 1955 'streamliner' set to smash F1 record at auction
FELLBACH, Germany, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A sleek, long-nosed Mercedes raced by Stirling Moss and five-times Formula One world champion Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955 could become the most expensive grand prix car of all time at an auction in Stuttgart on Saturday. The W196 R Stromlinienwagen ("Streamline car"), one of only four complete examples in existence, is being sold by RM Sotheby's on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) at a target price of more than 50 million euros ($52 million). If it meets the estimate, it would also be the second costliest car ever sold at auction after a 1955 Mercedes 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe sportscar that changed hands for 135 million euros in May 2022. The most expensive grand prix car sold at auction to date was another ex-Fangio 1954 Mercedes W196 that fetched $29.6 million at Goodwood in 2013. The IMS car is the first streamline-bodied W196 R to become available for private ownership and, in its open-wheel form, was driven to victory by Fangio at the non-championship Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1955. Moss raced it with the streamline body at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, retiring after setting the fastest lap at an average speed of 215.7 kph. Mercedes withdrew from factory-sponsored motorsport in 1955 after a Le Mans 24 Hours disaster that killed 84 people, returning to Formula One as an engine maker in 1994. The car is presented in its Monza livery with full documentation. "Without any doubt, it's the most beautiful race car in the world and ever. Nothing can compare. It's simply a masterpiece of style and design," Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz heritage, told Reuters Television. "It is very fast. The top speed is actually above and beyond 300 kph. "I wouldn't expect that it's too much of an effort to get it back to driving condition. And we gladly will offer whoever buys the car to do it for them." The car, chassis number 00009/54, was donated to the IMS by Mercedes in 1965 and is being sold to raise funds for the museum's restoration efforts. The Indianapolis museum, which is aiming to become more U.S.-focused, is selling a total of 11 cars from its collection at three separate auctions this year. The Mercedes 'Silver Arrows' dominated the immediate pre- and post World War Two era of grand prix racing with the W196 R a world-beater in 1954 and 1955. The streamlined bodywork with enclosed wheels was used at high-speed circuits, with the open-wheeled version favoured for more twisty tracks. ($1 = 0.9598 euros)
