1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner Fetches Over $55M USD at Auction
Making it the most valuable grand prix car ever sold and the second most valuable car ever sold.
A piece of motorsport history has set a new benchmark at auction. The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, one of the most significant Formula One cars ever built, has been sold via RM Sotheby’s for a staggering €51,155,000 ($55.3 million USD). This sale makes it the most valuable Mercedes-Benz competition car ever auctioned and one of the most expensive Formula One cars of all time.
This example, chassis number 00009/54, is one of only four W 196 R models to receive the enclosed-fender Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) bodywork. It was driven to victory by Juan Manuel Fangio at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix and later piloted by Sir Stirling Moss at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where he set the fastest lap.
Following its racing career, Mercedes-Benz donated the car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965, where it was meticulously preserved for 59 years. During its time at the museum, it was displayed at prestigious automotive events, including Pebble Beach and the Petersen Automotive Museum.
The W 196 R played a significant role in Mercedes-Benz’s dominant return to Formula One, securing back-to-back World Championships in 1954 and 1955. Designed under Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the car introduced cutting-edge technology, including desmodromic valve actuation and direct fuel injection, both of which influenced future racing and road cars.
With its unparalleled racing pedigree, period-correct Monza livery, legendary provenance and record-setting sale price, the W 196 R Streamliner is now firmly cemented as one of the most significant auction results in motorsport history.
