Photo by Luis del Prado via Pexels
A truly legendary piece of racing heritage – a 1954 Mercedes W 196 R Formula One car driven by icons Sir Stirling Moss and the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio – is about to go under the hammer. And get this: it’s expected to fetch a jaw-dropping £41 million, potentially smashing records!
This isn’t just any old race car. This specific machine (chassis number 9, one of only 54 ever built) is a real slice of motorsport magic. It was one of the very first of these sleek “streamliner” Mercedes racers sold to a private owner and played a starring role in F1’s golden age.
- Racing Royalty: Imagine Sir Stirling Moss setting the blistering fastest lap in this very car at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix! And Fangio? He powered it to victory at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, a key win that helped him clinch his third world championship that year. How cool is that?
- Iconic Look: You’ll recognize it instantly in its classic Monza race livery – the same look it had for its final race, fittingly, at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix.
Where’s it been hiding? Well, since 1965, this incredible Mercedes has been a prized exhibit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, a gift straight from Mercedes-Benz. For nearly 60 years, it’s been meticulously preserved, a time capsule of speed and engineering brilliance. Now, it’s one of 11 headline cars from the museum hitting the auction block.
But wait, there’s more! This RM Sotheby’s auction in Stuttgart (mark your calendars for February 1st!) isn’t just about the Mercedes. Gearheads will also drool over:
- The Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250 LM
- Michael Schumacher’s 1991 Benetton B191 – the car from his very first full F1 season!
The buzz is real. Collectors and racing fans worldwide are holding their breath. This is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a massive chunk of Formula One history. With its unbeatable pedigree – raced by legends, preserved perfectly for decades – this 1954 Mercedes W 196 R isn’t just expected to break records; it’s poised to cement its place as one of the most valuable and significant racing cars ever sold. Wow.ivers, historic victories, or timeless design, this Mercedes is a true masterpiece of motorsport heritage.
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