Fine Tailoring and Good Manners

Fine Tailoring and Good Manners

‘Fangio in the Mercedes W196 was like a scalpel in the hands of a surgeon—precise, cutting, and leaving everyone else in need of a check-up.’

An iconic piece of motorsport history is being auctioned: the Mercedes W196, driven by legends Fangio and Moss.

With a jaw-dropping £41m estimate, this car isn’t just a machine—it’s a symbol of racing’s golden age.

Victories, records, and two of F1’s most significant drivers are etched into its DNA.

Could this be the ultimate collector’s treasure?

Read on for the whole story.

The Mercedes-Benz W196 debuts in 1954, clinching the Formula 1 World Championship in 1954 and 1955.

Chassis number nine, a streamliner-bodied variant, becomes a key player in these triumphs.

Fangio drives the car to victory at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, cementing its legendary status.

Stirling Moss sets the fastest lap at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix in the same car, adding to its illustrious history.

In 1965, Mercedes-Benz donated the car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

For 59 years, the car has been meticulously maintained, preserving its original racing livery and components.

In 2025, RM Sotheby’s collaborated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum to offer the car for sale.

The auction is set for February 1, 2025, in Stuttgart, Germany, with an eye-watering estimate of £41m.

The W196 is not just a car—it’s a masterpiece of mid-century engineering that represents dominance in Formula 1.

Driven by two of the sport’s most revered figures, Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, it embodies the spirit of racing’s golden age.

With its history, victories, and impeccable condition, the car could break the record for the most expensive F1 car ever sold.

This W196 isn’t just a collector’s item—it’s a time machine, transporting us back to the thrilling days of Fangio and Moss.

Stay tuned for the auction; motorsport history is about to change hands.

‘The W196 proves that some things never go out of style: fine tailoring, good manners, and a car that can beat everything else on four wheels.’