AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Historic Mercedes W196 R ‘Streamliner’ Fetches €46.5 Million at Auction

Publisher by Publisher
February 2, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Historic Mercedes W196 R ‘Streamliner’ Fetches €46.5 Million at Auction

The legendary Mercedes-Benz W196 R ‘Streamliner’, famously driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, has become one of the most expensive Formula 1 cars ever sold, hammering for a staggering €46.5 million ($50 million USD) at RM Sotheby’s auction.

An Icon of Grand Prix History

One of only four complete examples in existence, the sleek Silver Arrow was auctioned at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, with proceeds benefiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum’s restoration projects.

With an initial estimate of over €50 million, the bidding quickly surged to €40 million in increments of €5 million, before slowing to its final price.

This 1955 W196 R ‘Streamliner’ now sits among the most valuable race cars ever sold, just behind the record-shattering 1955 Mercedes 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which fetched €135 million ($142 million USD) in 2022.

The W196 R’s Racing Legacy

This particular chassis, 00009/54, boasts an incredible Grand Prix history:

🏁 Driven to victory by Fangio at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, albeit with an open-wheel body.
🏁 Raced by Stirling Moss at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza with the full streamlined bodywork, setting the fastest lap at 134 mph (215.7 kph) before retiring.

This was also one of the last cars raced before Mercedes-Benz’s dramatic withdrawal from motorsports in the aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, where 84 spectators tragically lost their lives.

Why This Sale Matters

The car was originally donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum by Mercedes in 1965, remaining a centerpiece exhibit for nearly 60 years. However, the IMS Museum has now chosen to part ways with it to fund future restoration projects with a stronger U.S. motorsports focus.

“It’s a beautiful car, it’s a very historic car, it’s just a little bit outside our scope window,” said IMS Museum curator Jason Vansickle. “With this auction and the proceeds raised, it really will allow us … to be better in the future.”

A Collector’s Dream – But Who Bought It?

The buyer’s identity remains undisclosed, but they now own one of the most sought-after Grand Prix cars ever built. This W196 R represents the pinnacle of 1950s Formula 1 engineering, blending cutting-edge aerodynamics with the raw power of Mercedes’ dominant era.

💭 What do you think—was this a fair price for a piece of motorsport history?

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Mercedes’ 2026 engine controversy: could a ‘trick’ unleash a 15-horsepower advantage?
Motorsports

Mercedes’ 2026 engine controversy: could a ‘trick’ unleash a 15-horsepower advantage?

Title: Mercedes' Controversial Engine for 2026: A Potential Power Play Worth 15 Horsepower? In a shocking revelation that could shake...

by Harry Bright
January 13, 2026
Ex F1 star Antonio Pizzonia arrested in Texas: shocking details emerge after violent incident
Motorsports

Ex F1 star Antonio Pizzonia arrested in Texas: shocking details emerge after violent incident

Former Formula 1 sensation Antonio Pizzonia finds himself embroiled in a shocking legal drama following his arrest in Texas, sparking...

by Harry Bright
January 13, 2026
Lando Norris defies the odds: ex-F1 boss hails his heroic championship comeback
Motorsports

Lando Norris defies the odds: ex-F1 boss hails his heroic championship comeback

Lando Norris: The Brave Champion Who Defied All Odds in F1 Showdown! In a heart-pounding twist of fate that sent...

by David Castro
January 13, 2026
F1 2026: shocking driver number changes reveal bold identities and fierce rivalries ahead
Motorsports

F1 2026: shocking driver number changes reveal bold identities and fierce rivalries ahead

F1 DRIVERS UNVEIL NEW NUMBERS FOR 2026: WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE TRACK! Get ready, racing fans! The 2026 Formula...

by Redação
January 13, 2026

Recent News

Mercedes’ 2026 engine controversy: could a ‘trick’ unleash a 15-horsepower advantage?

Mercedes’ 2026 engine controversy: could a ‘trick’ unleash a 15-horsepower advantage?

January 13, 2026
Ex F1 star Antonio Pizzonia arrested in Texas: shocking details emerge after violent incident

Ex F1 star Antonio Pizzonia arrested in Texas: shocking details emerge after violent incident

January 13, 2026
Lando Norris defies the odds: ex-F1 boss hails his heroic championship comeback

Lando Norris defies the odds: ex-F1 boss hails his heroic championship comeback

January 13, 2026
F1 2026: shocking driver number changes reveal bold identities and fierce rivalries ahead

F1 2026: shocking driver number changes reveal bold identities and fierce rivalries ahead

January 13, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.