Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Mercedes-Benz W196R 00006/54. Photos courtesy Bonhams.
Until Friday, July 12, the most expensive car ever sold at auction was a 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa Prototype, sold by Gooding & Company at its 2011 Monterey auction for $16.4 million (at the time, about £10 million). That now seems like a relative bargain compared to the $29.65 million (£19,601,500) realized by Bonhams at its Goodwood sale for the Mercedes-Benz W196R that helped legendary F1 driver Juan Manuel Fangio achieve his second Formula 1 championship in 1954.
The sum more than doubles the previous record for a German automobile sold at auction, which was the $11.77 million that a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster sold for at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach 2012 sale. Still, there is good reason for Mercedes-Benz W196R chassis number 00006/54 achieving the staggering number it did: Not only was it driven by Fangio himself to two grand prix race wins, but it is the only W196 in private hands.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Even without the direct link to Fangio, calling the car historically significant is a bit of an understatement. Following Fangio’s time behind the wheel, the car was driven by Hans Hermann and later by Karl Kling. Upon its retirement from racing, 00006/54 was restored and displayed in the Mercedes-Benz museum (and later shown throughout Europe) before later being pressed into service for tire development and testing. It was also the favorite “testing car” of the legendary Mercedes-Benz engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who in late 1969 had it reserved at all times for his personal use.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Perhaps adding to the car’s value (and certainly to the new buyer’s peace of mind), the car was authenticated by Mercedes-Benz Classic prior to being offered for sale by Bonhams. Per M-B Classic’s written evaluation of the car:
Based on the extensive original documentation in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives and an inspection of the vehicle by the Mercedes-Benz Classic specialists, we were able to decisively ascertain that the vehicle in question is in fact the original vehicle from the 1954/1955 racing season. The engine fitted in the vehicle, which was able to be identified by means of the identification number stamped on it as well as a number of other markings, was found to be the M 196 R engine model variant with which the vehicle in question retired on 9 December 1955 from a successful racing season. The identification numbers stamped on the front and rear axles, the transmission and the steering gear clearly indicate that these are components which were also fitted in the vehicle bearing the vehicle identification number 0006/54 at the end of the 1955 season.
While a substantial amount, the price paid for the Mercedes-Benz does not surpass the highest known price paid for a car; that record goes to the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold last May in a private transaction for $35 million.
We will include full results from the Bonhams Goodwood sale after its conclusion.