The car is expected to be auctioned in early 2025 with an estimated price of more than $52 million (more than VND 1,357 billion). The value of this car can beat modern F1 cars that have been driven by famous racers such as Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.
This Mercedes W 196 R is not only one of the rare cars in the F1 sports car series but is also associated with the names of two legendary racers in history, Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss.
This is the first W 196 R to be sold privately, after being preserved and displayed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum since 1965. Rebuilt in 2015 by specialists at Canepa Motorsports, the car retains its signature livery from the 1955 F1 race in Italy.
The W 196 R Streamliner made its debut in the 1954 French F1 Grand Prix and was an immediate success, helping Fangio win the world championship that year. After the final race in 1955, the W 196 R cars were preserved in museums around the world. All 10 complete W 196 R cars ever built are carefully preserved.
Chassis number 00009/54, after a long period of preservation, will be auctioned on February 1, 2025. Although it cannot break the record price of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe ($143 million), this W 196 R promises to become the most expensive F1 car ever and become a priceless collectible for those who love the history of motor racing.
