Fangio’s Mercedes F1 is valued at almost 50 million euros

In the end, everything is sold. Even sacred monsters and masterpieces in the collection. For the second time in twelve years, the Silver Arrow appeared on the market, marking Mercedes’ return to Grand Prix racing immediately after the war. We owe this miracle to the Motor Speedway Museum in Indianapolis, which decided to part with it along with other gems from its collection. The company with the star gave it to her in 1965. Since then, she has never left her American lair. His journey is not marred by any gray area. Its sale on February 1 as part of the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart was entrusted to RM Sotheby’s. She valued it at approximately 50 million euros.

Several parameters contribute to this. The Mercedes W196 R is not a single-seater like any other. During her two years (1954 and 1955) of participation, she dominated the debate, allowing Juan Manuel Fangio to win two titles in a row.

Victory in Argentina

The Indianapolis Museum model, chassis number 009/54 and powered by a 3-liter 8-cylinder engine, has a special aura. This is the single-seater in which the Argentine champion won his national Grand Prix in stifling heat in early 1955. He returned to the track only for the Italian Grand Prix. For the Monza circuit, known as one of the fastest in the championship, F1 received an aerodynamic Streamliner body with streamlined wheels, which it retained.

Before retiring from the race, the W196 R 009/54, handed over to the Englishman Stirling Moss, set a lap record with an average speed of 215.7 km/h. At the end of the season, Mercedes will cease racing activities. The Le Mans tragedy played a heavy role in this epilogue. W196 is stored in the vaults of the brand museum.