Iconic Mercedes F1 car driven by Fangio and Moss goes up for auction

An iconic Mercedes F1 car driven to victory by five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio – and that also set a fastest lap with legendary driver Stirling Moss at the wheel – is going up for auction, with the price set at $50,000,000.

Offered from the Collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen is one of just 14 of the chassis built and is thought to be one of only 10 known to have made it to the conclusion of the 1955 season.

It is also one of just four of the model mounted with the Streamliner coachwork and the first of those sporting it to be offered for private ownership.

Built in 1954 as the Silver Arrows returned to racing – having resumed production following World War II – the vehicle proved victorious at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix for Fangio, who would go on to claim the third of his five titles that season.

A 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen driven by Fangio and Moss has come up for auction

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A 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen driven by Fangio and Moss has come up for auction

Another famed driver to take the wheel of the W 196 R was Moss, who used it to set the fastest lap at the Italian Grand Prix at the conclusion of the 1955 campaign. The car is presented in its Monza livery from the event, its final competitive outing.

After Moss ended that season in second behind Fangio – marking a hugely successful campaign for the team – Mercedes retired the car to their in-house collection before going on to donate it to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965.

Since then chassis number 00009/54 has never been formally presented for judging or driven in any vintage events, with the car being cared for by the IMS Museum. It is only the second model of the car ever offered for private ownership and is the sole example to sport the Streamliner coachwork.

For those interested in owning this rare piece of motorsport history, Sotheby’s has listed the price as in excess of $50,000,000.