The iconic W196 R, driven by Formula 1 legends, becomes the most expensive Grand Prix car ever sold

A Mercedes W196 R Stromlinienwagen, once raced by F1 legends Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, has smashed auction records, selling for an astounding £42.75m (€51.155m). The legendary car, a masterpiece of 1950s engineering, was sold by RM Sotheby’s at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

The silver W196 R gained its fame when Fangio drove it to victory at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, further cementing his place as one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers. The car’s history is further immortalised by Moss, who set a blistering fastest lap at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, clocking an average speed of 134mph before retiring.

The W196 R, one of only four in existence, had an estimated value exceeding €50m, and the final hammer price came in at €46.5m. After the buyer’s premium, the sale reached an incredible £42.75m, making it the most expensive grand prix car ever sold. This breaks the previous record held by another ex-Fangio Mercedes W196 from 1954, which fetched £19.6m at Goodwood in 2013.

This iconic Mercedes now stands as the second most valuable car ever sold at auction, trailing only the record-breaking 1955 Mercedes 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which commanded €135m (£113m) in May 2022. The sale of the W196 R signifies a monumental moment in automotive history.

IMS curator Jason Vansickle described the car as “a beautiful and historic piece,” though he acknowledged it was “just a little bit outside our scope window.” The remarkable sale underscores the continued fascination with motorsport legends and their iconic vehicles, forever linking the W196 R with the golden era of Formula 1.