This Mercedes sold for over £42.7 million

Rare W 196 R streamliner from 1954 has now been auctioned off

Mercedes-Benz W 196 R streamlined car from 1954

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

By: Roland Hildebrandt

Published by: Brian Potter

Feb 3, 2025 at 7:15am ET

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One of the world's most historically significant racing cars, a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R with streamlined bodywork and chassis number 00009/54, was sold by RM Sotheby's at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. In 1965, the former Daimler-Benz AG donated the car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Today, the car fetched €51,155,000 (approximately £42.7 million) at an exclusive one-off auction.

The W 196 R attracted the interest of serious collectors from all over the world and was the subject of fierce bidding on the telephone and in the auction room before the hammer fell, making it the most valuable Grand Prix racing car ever sold at auction.

Gallery: 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen

Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner from 1954

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Few historic racing cars are as well known as the famous Mercedes Silver Arrows that dominated Grand Prix racing in the immediate pre- and post-war period. Developed to meet the new regulations introduced in 1954 for engines up to 2.5 litres, the W 196 R quickly proved the car to beat in the hands of legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss.

Today's auction of the W 196 R took place in the same room where the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupé", the most expensive car ever sold at auction, was sold for €135 million (£114 million).

Mercedes-Benz W 196 R streamlined car from 1954

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

"What an exciting auction! This original, sleek W 196 R has now changed hands - and I congratulate the lucky buyer. There are very few Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows in private hands. Today the hammer fell at €51,155,000 (£42,732,000). This makes it the most valuable Grand Prix racing car in the world and just behind the all-time champion Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut-Coupé" in the overall ranking of the most valuable automobiles.

"Our Silver Arrows are undoubtedly among the most iconic and coveted automobiles ever built. They are the shining stars in the firmament of motorsport and automotive history," says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Director of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH.

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Gord Duff, RM Sotheby's Global Head of Auctions: "It is difficult to describe the significance of this sale. This car is simply one of the most important racing cars in history and it is an honour for RM Sotheby's to sell it so successfully for the benefit of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has been honoured to care for the W 196 R in our museum and share it with the public. But the amount raised today is a critical contribution to increasing our endowment and long-term sustainability, as well as restoring and expanding our collection," said Joe Hale, President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

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