One of the world's most historically significant racing cars, the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R with streamlined bodywork from 1954 with chassis number 00009/54, is now up for auction at RM Sotheby's at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. In 1965, the then Daimler-Benz AG donated the car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The car fetched 51.155.000 euros at an exclusive one-off auction.
The W 196 R attracted the interest of serious collectors from around the world and was the subject of heated bidding battles over the phone and on site before the auctioneer brought down the gavel, making the car the most valuable Grand Prix racing car ever sold at auction.
Few historic racing cars are as well known as the famous Mercedes Silver Arrows that dominated Grand Prix racing in the immediate pre- and post-war period. The W 196 R was developed for the new regulations introduced in 1954, with engines up to 2,5 litres, and quickly proved to be a racing car that was raced by legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss.
Today's auction of the W 196 R took place in the same room where the Mercedes-Benz 2022 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupé" was sold at auction in 300, which, with a proceeds of 135.000.000 euros, is the most expensive car ever sold at auction. "What an exciting auction! This original, elegant W 196 R has now changed hands - and congratulations to the lucky buyer. Very few Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows are in private hands. Today, the hammer fell at a price of 51.155.000 euros ($53.917.370). This makes it the most valuable Grand Prix racing car in the world and, in the overall ranking of the most valuable cars, it is just behind the all-time champion Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut-Coupé".
“Our Silver Arrows are undoubtedly among the most iconic and desirable cars of all time. They are shining stars in the firmament of motorsport and automotive history,” says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH. Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions at RM Sotheby's: “It is difficult to describe the significance of this sale. This car is simply one of the most important racing cars in history and RM Sotheby's is extremely honoured to have successfully sold it for the benefit of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.”
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has been honored to care for the W 196 R in our museum and share it with the public. But the amount raised today is a crucial contribution to increasing our endowment and the long-term sustainability and restoration and expansion of our collection,” said Joe Hale, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
