F1 News
This legendary Mercedes becomes the most expensive F1 car EVER after sale
A 1954 championship-winning Mercedes has sold for over €50 million at auction, becoming the most expensive Formula 1 car ever. Driven by legends Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, the W196R sold for a breathtaking £42.76 million. (€51.155 million)
This marks only the second time a W196R has ever been sold. The "Streamliner" version featured enclosed bodywork over the open wheels and a longer wheelbase, designed to enhance performance on low-downforce circuits.
The chassis, once driven by Fangio to victory at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, was later handed over to Moss for the Monza race that same year. Competing on the legendary 10-kilometer banked circuit, now absent from Formula 1, the car set a remarkable new record for F1 sales at auction.
It was the first-ever Stromlinienwagen or "Streamliner" chassis to be offered for private sale. That particular car had been on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum since 1965, following its donation by Mercedes. The sale was handled by renowned auction house RM Sotheby’s, which later confirmed the final price of €51,155,000 on its website.
The Mercedes W196R in pictures:
A piece of motorsport history has just changed hands. The first-ever W 196 R offered to the public, this legendary Silver Arrow is now the most valuable Grand Prix car ever sold and the second most valuable car ever sold. A truly once-in-a-lifetime sale. https://t.co/XjcEJxdRNM pic.twitter.com/fehiaQUvzF
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) February 1, 2025
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