In 2022, an old Mercedes-Benz W196 ‘Uhlenhaut’ Coupe set the world record for the most expensive car ever sold at auction. That went for a cool £115 million (P8.3 billion). Nine years prior in 2013, an old Mercedes-Benz W196 went for a bargain £24 million (P1.7 billion).
And earlier this month, an old Mercedes-Benz W196 from 1954 once driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, and Sir Stirling Moss sold for £51.2 million (P3.7 billion). Got a rusty old 190E lying around? Cover it in bubble wrap immediately and wait 50 or so years. Who knows, you could get a few grand for it.
Though this isn’t some old 190. It is the (deep breath) Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen. as the name suggests, the streamlined, high-speed iteration of Merc’s all-conquering W196 GP racer championed by Fangio and Moss.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Audi is changing its model naming system...again
The Toyota Tamaraw will be visiting SM Megamall from February 7-9
Its sale price makes it the second most expensive car ever sold in a public auction behind Rudi Uhlenhaut’s company car. Its provenance makes it really freaking cool. It’s the only W196 streamliner (from four built) offered to private ownership, and under Fangio’s untouchable skill, it scored a win at the 1955 Buenos Aires GP.
In the same year, Moss managed a fastest lap in this 2.5-liter W196R at Monza, before having to retire because of a failing piston in cylinder five after 27 laps. Still, he got a point and the kudos of managing an average speed of 216kph.
You’ll remember Mercedes-Benz bowed out of motorsport at the end of the 1955 season, putting the W196 program on ice. A decade later, the US came calling, and in 1965, Merc donated this particular W196R to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation. It then spent the rest of its life having its every whim and want catered to, “fastidiously stored and maintained” by the Brickyard’s Museum before being offered up for sale by Merc itself late last year.
“It’s hard to describe the significance of this sale. This car is simply one of the most important racing cars in history,” said RM Sotheby’s global head of auctions Gord Duff.
It was sold in the same room as Rudi’s £115-million masterpiece, too, as noted by Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage: “Very few Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows are privately owned.
“Today, the hammer fell at €51,155,000/$53,017,370, making this racing car the world’s second most valuable car—hot on the heels of the all-time champ, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR ‘Uhlenhaut Coupe.’ Without a doubt, our Silver Arrows are up there among the most iconic and sought-after vehicles ever built.”
Like we said, might be an idea to go and cover up your beat-up old 190E in bubble wrap, and put it into storage somewhere. Could get a few grand for it one day.
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
