Back in 1984, a 24-year-old Ayrton Senna participated in the Race of Champions, competing against legends Alain Prost and Niki Lauda. And the cars they drove? The new Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16.
At the time, Senna was just a promising rookie, akin to the 190E he was driving. He and the 190E were still laying the foundations of their respective legacies, and the race proved to be a ceremonious step forward for both of them. Senna would end up finishing first, with Lauda following in second.
It seemed like the 190E left an impression on Senna, as he would end up purchasing one for himself after the race. However, unlike the modified Merc he raced with, he left his personal 190E fully stock.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
It’s minor tech and features updates for the ASEAN-spec Honda Accord
Nissan builds the final R35 GT-R after 18 years of production
Senna owned the car for two years, putting just over 40,000km on it. As he was about to sign with McLaren, he sold the car to a friend of his manager’s who was based in the United Kingdom, where the car was bought. It stayed around the UK for about nine years, until a collector based in Australia purchased the car.
Down under, the new owner dutifully maintained the 190E, and even had the engine bay signed by Niki Lauda in 2016 while the racing legend visited the Australian Grand Prix. He enjoyed it as well, adding over 200,000km to its mileage. The original documents, manuals, stereo, tool kit, and other items are still in great condition—and the first-aid kit is still unopened—but the owner did add a car alarm and an immobilizer—both of which are factory-approved by Mercedes.
And now, R.M. Southeby’s will be auctioning off the 190E in November, bringing the car back to the UK. Bids are expected to start at GBP220,000 (around P16.9 million), and there is no telling what the final offer will be.
More photos of Ayrton Senna’s Mercedes-Benz 190E:
