Trade News: for £42 Million, Mercedes sets to auction the 1954 Streamliner driven by Fangio and Miss at….
Classic Mercedes driven by Fangio and Moss to sell at auction for £42M
The 1954 W 196 R Stromlinienwagen – or Streamliner – is one of just four produced that won the 1955 F1 title
If it sells for its guide price of €50m (£42/$52m) it will be the second priciest car to change hands at auction
A unique 1950s Mercedes race car piloted by two of Formula One’s greats is set to become one of the priciest vehicles to ever sell at auction.
The 1954 W 196 R Stromlinienwagen is one of just four produced by the German marque in the ‘streamliner’ specification and has been driven by two of F1’s most celebrated greats: five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio and British motorsport legend, Sir Stirling Moss.
It is the first of its kind to be offered for private ownership having been made available by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
It will go under the hammer in February and is estimated to sell for a staggering €50million, which works to around £42million.
Only one other motors have sold at auction for a higher figure, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the most affluent car collectors on the planet.
RM Sotheby’s, the auction house in charge of finding the next owner for this pre-eminent vehicle, describes it as a ‘diamond of extraordinary cut, emitting a brilliance that is almost impossible to fathom’.
Classic Mercedes set to become the second most expensive car ever sold at auction: The 1954 W 196 R Stromlinienwagen – or Streamliner – has been driven by two of the biggest Formula One greats: Fangio and Moss. It will be offered to the highest bidder early next year and is expected to sell for a figure in the region of ¿50million (£42million)
Classic Mercedes set to become the second most expensive car ever sold at auction: The 1954 W 196 R Stromlinienwagen – or Streamliner – has been driven by two of the biggest Formula One greats: Fangio and Moss. It will be offered to the highest bidder early next year and is expected to sell for a figure in the region of ¿50million (£42million)
Stirling Moss (left) bearing the number 16 following Argentinian team mate Juan Manuel Fangio (18, right) in their Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Steamliners on the famous banked curve of Monza during the Italian Grand Prix on 11 September 1955
Stirling Moss (left) bearing the number 16 following Argentinian team mate Juan Manuel Fangio (18, right) in their Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Steamliners on the famous banked curve of Monza during the Italian Grand Prix on 11 September 1955
The single-lot sale will take place on 1 February at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, on 1 February 2025.
The car is said to have been ‘fastidiously stored and maintained’ for 59 years by the American motor museum, which has owned the racer since 1965 when it Mercedes-Benz donated it for display.
Fangio, who took world titles in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957, piloted chassis number 00009/54 to victory at the ’55 Buenos Aires Grand Prix.
Moss then drove this Mercedes to second position – and clocked the fastest lap of the race – at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza later in the same season, finishing runner-up to Fangio in another Streamliner.
The car will be presented at the auction as it was after Moss crossed the finish line at the Italian circuit some 70 years earlier.
The 1954 W 196 R Stromlinienwagen is one of just four produced by the German marque in the ‘streamliner’ specification and has been driven by two of F1’s most celebrated greats
The 1954 W 196 R Stromlinienwagen is one of just four produced by the German marque in the ‘streamliner’ specification and has been driven by two of F1’s most celebrated greats
Fangio, who took world titles in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957, piloted chassis number 00009/54 to victory at the ’55 Buenos Aires Grand Prix
Fangio, who took world titles in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957, piloted chassis number 00009/54 to victory at the ’55 Buenos Aires Grand Prix
Moss then drove this Mercedes to second position – and clocked the fastest lap of the race – at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza later in the same season (pictured here on race day on 11 September 1955). The Briton finishing runner-up to Fangio in another Streamliner
Moss then drove this Mercedes to second position – and clocked the fastest lap of the race – at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza later in the same season (pictured here on race day on 11 September 1955). The Briton finishing runner-up to Fangio in another Streamliner
Celebrities gather in Westminster to celebrate Sir Stirling Moss
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
0:00
The most expensive cars ever sold at auction – at up to $142M
article image
The W 196 R’s pedigree was ‘unimpeachable’, says RM Sotheby’s.
In the two seasons it competed, the model won three championships in two different racing series.
In total, the streamliner specifications earned 11 victories out of 14 starts – an immense 78 per cent win record.
At the time, there was no World Constructors’ Championship as there is in Formula One today – though had there been in 1955, the Mercedes team would have unquestionably taken this crown with Fangio taking the driver’s title and Moss taking second overall.
Such levels of dominance in the primarily racing series is incredibly rare. That said, even the ’55 Mercedes team pales in comparison to the supremacy seen only last season when Red Bull, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, won 21 out of 22 races to achieve an unmatched 95.5 per cent victory streak.
Mercedes-Benz donated the W 196 R to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965
Mercedes-Benz donated the W 196 R to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965
It has remained in the American display for 60 years
It has remained in the American display for 60 years
The stunningly Mercedes race car is powered by a 2.5-litre straight-eight engine producing a claimed 290bhp
The stunningly Mercedes race car is powered by a 2.5-litre straight-eight engine producing a claimed 290bhp
The top speed – in 1955 – was reportedly in excess of 186mph, making it one of the fastest Grand Prix cars of its generation
The top speed – in 1955 – was reportedly in excess of 186mph, making it one of the fastest Grand Prix cars of its generation
Mercedes-Benz Classic will prepare its detailed report and history catalogue showcasing the car’s authenticity and originality ahead of the sale
Mercedes-Benz Classic will prepare its detailed report and history catalogue showcasing the car’s authenticity and originality ahead of the sale
The car is said to have been ‘fastidiously stored and maintained’ for 59 years by the American automotive attraction. It is the first of W 196 R Streamliner to be offered for private ownership
The car is said to have been ‘fastidiously stored and maintained’ for 59 years by the American automotive attraction. It is the first of W 196 R Streamliner to be offered for private ownership
The stunningly Mercedes race car is powered by a 2.5-litre straight-eight engine producing a claimed 290bhp.
The top speed – in 1955 – was reportedly in excess of 186mph, making it one of the fastest Grand Prix cars of its generation.
RM Sotheby’s says: ‘The car is one of just 14 chassis built, and it is believed to be one of just 10 known complete examples surviving at the conclusion of the 1955 Formula One season.
‘Of those, this example was one of only four mounted with the magnificent Streamliner coachwork.’
The world’s biggest car collectors from around the globe will be invited to bid on the spectacular motor, which is not only presented in its ‘proper Monza livery’ from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix but comes fully documented with a trove of period materials.
Mercedes-Benz Classic will prepare its detailed report and history catalogue showcasing the car’s authenticity and originality ahead of the sale.
The car is one of just 14 W 196 R chassis built, and one of 4 Streamliner specifications. It is also believed to be one of just 10 known complete examples surviving at the conclusion of the 1955 Formula One season
The car is one of just 14 W 196 R chassis built, and one of 4 Streamliner specifications. It is also believed to be one of just 10 known complete examples surviving at the conclusion of the 1955 Formula One season
The world’s biggest car collectors from around the globe will be invited to bid on the spectacular motor, which is not only presented in its ‘proper Monza livery’ from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix but comes fully documented with a trove of period materials
The world’s biggest car collectors from around the globe will be invited to bid on the spectacular motor, which is not only presented in its ‘proper Monza livery’ from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix but comes fully documented with a trove of period materials
RM Sotheby’s, the auction house in charge of finding the next owner for this pre-eminent vehicle, describes it as a ‘diamond of extraordinary cut, emitting a brilliance that is almost impossible to fathom’
RM Sotheby’s, the auction house in charge of finding the next owner for this pre-eminent vehicle, describes it as a ‘diamond of extraordinary cut, emitting a brilliance that is almost impossible to fathom’
It is extremely rare that a 70-year-old racer has been preserved in the same condition it last finished a race
It is extremely rare that a 70-year-old racer has been preserved in the same condition it last finished a race
Fangio, who took world titles in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957, piloted chassis number 00009/54 to victory at the ’55 Buenos Aires Grand Prix
Fangio, who took world titles in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957, piloted chassis number 00009/54 to victory at the ’55 Buenos Aires Grand Prix
Given the Mercedes was driven by five-time World Champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, and British motorsport legend, Sir Stirling Moss, it will undoubtedly be huge attraction to the wealthiest car collectors on the planet
Given the Mercedes was driven by five-time World Champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, and British motorsport legend, Sir Stirling Moss, it will undoubtedly be huge attraction to the wealthiest car collectors on the planet
The most valuable car in the world: Auction house confirms sale of a 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe for £115MILLION making it the planet’s most expensive motor
article image
The €50million guide price – which is $52.3million – would put the W 196 R second in the list of most expensive cars sold at auction.
The top honour is held by another Mercedes from the same period, also sold by RM Sotheby’s two years ago.
It was bought by a private collector at a secret, behind-closed-doors, invite-only sale, also hosted at Mercedes’ museum in Germany.
Only those with pockets deep enough were deemed eligible for an entry ticket.
RM Sotheby’s said the car has ‘always been regarded as one of the great jewels of motoring history’ and its sale is a monumental moment with few ever imagining that it would be offered to a private buyer by the German manufacturer.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.