Legendary Mercedes with 290 horsepower engine hits auction at eye-watering £41.8MILLION after making motoring history
ONE of the most iconic racing cars ever built is expected to fetch over £40million when it goes under the hammer.
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R, with a closed-fender ‘Stromlinierwagen’ body, is one of just four ever produced.
The legendary car will be sold at an exclusive auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in February – and is expected to fetch up to €50 million (£41.8m/$52.5m)
This remarkable machine not only claimed victory on its debut at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix but also boasted a top speed of 186mph, a staggering feat for 1955 making it one of the most advanced racing cars of its time.
Few cars represent the golden age of motorsport quite like the Mercedes-Benz “Silver Arrows,” which dominated Grand Prix racing before and after World War II.
Known for cutting-edge engineering and lightning-fast speeds, the W 196 R was purpose-built for the 1954 “up to 2.5-litre” Formula One rules.
It was also driven by racing legends Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, and quickly became the car to beat, boasting a revolutionary straight-eight engine delivering 290 horsepower.
Its aerodynamic, enclosed-wheel design was tailored for high-speed circuits, while an open-wheel version handled tighter tracks.
The W 196 R made its debut at the 1954 French Grand Prix in Reims with a sensational one-two finish.
Fangio and Karl Kling took first and second, with teammate Hans Herrmann setting the fastest lap. Fangio went on to secure the 1954 Formula One World Championship with the W 196 R.
The car first competed in the 1955 Formula Libre Buenos Aires Grand Prix, where Fangio started on pole and claimed victory.
Later that year, the car raced in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, fitted with its streamlined body for the first time. Moss, behind the wheel, set the fastest lap of the race.
By the end of 1955, the W 196 R had cemented its legacy, winning nine of 12 Formula One points races and multiple championships.
This particular car is part of an 11-vehicle collection from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, being sold by RM Sotheby’s to fund restoration efforts. Mercedes-Benz Classic is preparing a detailed report on the car’s authenticity and originality.
Donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation in 1965, the iconic car has been preserved and showcased at prestigious events, including the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but has never been judged in a concours, keeping it in pristine condition.
One of only four surviving W 196 R cars with its original streamlined bodywork, it’s a rare gem of motorsport history.
The auction marks just the second time a W 196 R has been offered for private sale—and the first with the iconic streamlined design.
It will be presented in its 1955 Monza livery, along with extensive historical documentation.