- Record-Breaking Sale – The Mercedes-Benz W196 R ‘Stromlinienwagen’ became the most valuable Grand Prix racing car ever sold at auction, fetching €51.155 million ($53.9M/£42.8M).
- Historic Racing Pedigree – Driven to victory by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix and later setting the fastest lap at the Italian Grand Prix with Stirling Moss.
- Rare Collector’s Item – One of only four ever built and the first to enter private ownership, previously held by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum for nearly six decades.
A legendary piece of motorsport history has become the most valuable Grand Prix racing car ever sold at auction. The Mercedes-Benz W196 R ‘Stromlinienwagen’ (Streamliner) fetched an astonishing €51.155 million ($53.9 million/£42.8 million) during an RM Sotheby’s event at the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart. The sale cements its status as one of the most sought-after racing machines ever built.
This iconic Silver Arrow holds a special place in racing history, having been piloted to victory by Juan Manuel Fangio at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix. Later that same season, it set the fastest lap at the Italian Grand Prix with Stirling Moss behind the wheel. The car, identified by its chassis number 00009/54, is one of only four ever produced and is now the first of its kind to enter private ownership.
Prior to its record-breaking sale, the car had been in the possession of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum for nearly six decades. It was originally donated to the museum in 1965 by Daimler-Benz AG, making its return to the open market a rare and momentous occasion for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The Streamliner now holds the title of the second-most valuable car ever sold at auction, following the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which achieved a record €135 million ($135 million/£113 million) in May 2022. The previous most expensive Grand Prix car was another of Fangio’s machines—a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 that sold for €23.65 million ($24.2 million/£19.6 million) in 2013.
The sale reinforces the enduring legacy of Mercedes-Benz’s Silver Arrows, which remain among the most revered vehicles in automotive and motorsport history. With their blend of engineering excellence and racing pedigree, these cars continue to captivate collectors and break records, decades after their dominance on the track.
