A true exclusive: a rare 1954 Mercedes went under the hammer for $54 million
Only four Mercedes W196 Stromlinienwagen with streamlined bodies and 290-si-chinynyk-silnyk fuel-injected engines were ever produced. It was this very race car that won the Argentine Grand Prix.
The unique 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 has become one of the most expensive cars of all time. It sold for $54 million at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Germany. This was reported on the auction house’s website:
This Mercedes W196 Stromlinienwagen is now the most expensive “Formula 1” race car. The car’s high price is due to its rarity, unconventional design, and racing successes.
The Mercedes W196 Stromlinienwagen features a streamlined body with enclosed wheels, which is atypical for Formula 1 cars. The German team found a loophole in the competition regulations, so this car turned out to be perfectly legal.
The Mercedes W196’s engine was also impressive in the 1950s, as the 2.5-liter inline-eight was equipped with direct fuel injection, which boosted its power to 290 l. s. The streamlined sports car was capable of reaching 300 km/h.
Only four Mercedes W196 Stromlinienwagen were ever built. They were used for racing on high-speed circuits, while conventional open-wheel race cars competed on slower circuits.
It was in this very Mercedes W196 Stromlinienwagen that Juan Manuel Fangio won the Argentine Grand Prix on his home turf. It was this car that made him the Formula 1 champion in 1954. In addition, Stirling Moss took second place in the Italian Grand Prix behind the wheel of this car.
Since 1965, the Mercedes W196 has been on display at the Indianapolis Motor Museum (USA). The museum is now selling off part of its collection, and this car is the jewel of the collection.
