Record under the hammer
One of the world’s most historically significant racing cars – the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, chassis number 00009/54 – has set a world record.
It has been auctioned by RM Sotheby’s for €51.155 million, the equivalent of about NZ$93.95m, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
The vehicle had been donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965 by Daimler-Benz AG and crossed the block in the exclusive single-car auction in Germany on February 1.
Attracting interest from serious collectors across the globe, the W 196 R was subject to a heated bidding battle before the hammer was brought down at a selling price that makes it the most valuable Grand Prix racing car ever sold at auction.
Few historic vehicles resonate as strongly as the famous Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows that dominated Grands Prix in the immediate pre and post-World War Two era, which were admired for their advanced technology and spectacular speed.
The W 196 R was developed to meet the new regulations for engines with up to 2.5-litre displacement introduced in 1954. It soon proved to be the car to beat in the hands of legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss.
Its sale took place in the same room that witnessed the sale of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupé”. It sold in 2022 for €135m, or NZ$247.9m at current exchange rates, making it the most valuable car ever sold at auction.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, says: “What a thrilling auction that was. This original, sleek-bodied, W 196 R original has now changed hands and I congratulate the lucky buyer.
“Very few Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows are privately owned. Without a doubt, our Silver Arrows are among the most iconic and sought-after vehicles ever built. They are the true shining stars in the firmament of motorsport and automotive history.”
Joe Hale, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, says: “We have been honoured to care for and share the W 196 R.
“But the sum it has achieved is a transformative contribution to increase our endowment and long-term sustainability, as well as the restoration and expansion of our collection.”
Gord Duff, global head of auctions at RM Sotheby’s, adds: “It’s hard to describe the significance of this sale. This car is simply one of the most important racing cars in history.”
