An Unmatched Piece of Motorsport History Changes Hands
In Stuttgart, the auction house RMS set a new milestone yesterday by selling a Mercedes-Benz W 196 R for an astonishing $51.155 million, including taxes and fees. The car, a streamlined version of the legendary Grand Prix racer, originally competed in Formula 1 in 1954. The hammer price alone was $46.5 million, making it the most expensive Grand Prix car ever sold at auction.
Why This Car Is So Significant
For modern Formula 1 fans, the streamlined bodywork may seem unusual. Today’s regulations mandate four exposed wheels, but in 1954, Mercedes-Benz had the flexibility to choose between a streamlined version and a traditional open-wheel design depending on the track. This flexibility contributed to the W 196 R’s success and cemented its place in motorsport history.
The W 196 R’s Journey from Reims to Record-Breaking Sale
The W 196 R made its debut on July 4, 1954, in Reims, where Mercedes-Benz made history with a dominant one-two finish. However, its next race in Silverstone exposed a key weakness of the streamlined design: limited visibility in corners. On tracks with barriers such as barrels, this became a disadvantage. By the third race, just two weeks later at the Nürburgring, a lighter open-wheel variant had been developed.
Even Stirling Moss, another motorsport legend, later drove this very car, further adding to its provenance and significance. September 11th, 1955: Monza, Italy (Picture: Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive – R7986)
Four W 196 R models were produced with full streamlining, while three were built as open-wheel cars. The ability to switch between configurations helped Mercedes-Benz dominate the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 seasons.
A Car Steeped in Racing Glory
The car sold at auction, chassis number 00009/54, played a key role in motorsport history. Juan Manuel Fangio, one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, raced this very car to victory at the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix—an event remembered as the hottest Grand Prix ever recorded. With temperatures soaring to 37°C (99°F) and track temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F), Fangio completed the grueling three-hour race solo, while his Ferrari rivals had to rotate multiple drivers.
After Mercedes-Benz withdrew from Formula 1, its race cars remained in company ownership. A decade later, the brand gifted this particular W 196 R to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, despite the fact that the car had no connection to the iconic U.S. circuit. The museum, founded in 1956, has been undergoing major renovations since November 2023, and the auction proceeds will help fund its expansion.
From Indianapolis to the Auction Block
For the museum’s foundation, this sale is a win, as the car was not directly tied to its core collection. The identity of the new owner remains undisclosed, but given the astronomical price, there is a possibility that the W 196 R may no longer be publicly displayed.
As the saying goes, one person’s gain is another’s loss—rarely has this been more fitting than in the case of this legendary Formula 1 machine.
Pictures Mercedes-Benz AG (2x)