A rare 1955 Mercedes W196 R Streamliner, once driven by Formula One icons Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, is set to go under the hammer in Stuttgart on Saturday. The historic race car, one of only four complete examples in existence, is expected to fetch over €50 million ($52 million) at RM Sotheby’s auction, potentially making it the most expensive grand prix car ever sold.
The W196 R is being auctioned on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum, which received the car as a donation from Mercedes in 1965. If it meets expectations, it will become the second most expensive car ever sold at auction, trailing only the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which fetched €135 million in 2022. The current grand prix auction record stands at $29.6 million, set in 2013 by another ex-Fangio 1954 Mercedes W196 at Goodwood.
This particular W196 R has a rich racing history. In its open-wheel form, Fangio drove it to victory at the non-championship Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1955. Later that year, Moss raced it with the streamline body at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, setting the fastest lap at an average speed of 215.7 kph before retiring from the race.
Mercedes-Benz withdrew from factory-backed motorsport later in 1955 following the tragic Le Mans disaster that claimed 84 lives. The brand did not return to Formula One as a works team until 2010, though it remained active as an engine supplier from 1994.
The W196 R is presented in its original Monza livery and comes with full documentation. Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz heritage, described it as “the most beautiful race car in the world and ever. Nothing can compare. It’s simply a masterpiece of style and design.”
Capable of speeds exceeding 300 kph, the car’s aerodynamic enclosed-wheel bodywork was specifically designed for high-speed circuits, while an open-wheel version was used for twistier tracks.
The IMS Museum, shifting its focus toward a more U.S.-centric collection, is selling 11 cars across three auctions to fund restoration efforts. This W196 R, chassis number 00009/54, represents a pivotal piece of motorsport history, and its upcoming sale is expected to be a landmark moment in the world of luxury automotive auctions.
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