This Mercedes is for sale for over 50 million euros!

The Mercedes-Benz W 196 R embodies those carefree years when Formula 1 took off, and clearly illustrates the technical genius that has always guided the star brand. Developed for the 1954 season, this single-seater marked Mercedes’ triumphant return to competition after World War II. Designed under the direction of Rudolf Uhlenhaut, it featured major innovations, such as direct injection derived from aviation and a lightweight tubular chassis.

Under its hood, there’s an inline 8-cylinder engine of 2.5 liters delivering nearly 300 horsepower. Enough to allow the silver arrow to approach 300 km/h, a dizzying speed for its time. The streamlined body, nicknamed “cowl,” used on fast circuits like Reims and Monza, while the open-wheel version excelled on winding tracks.

Next February 1 in Stuttgart, RM Sotheby’s will auction this car, which is part of the exceptional collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The museum needs a major overhaul, and its walls are not expandable anyway. A decision has therefore been made to sell some treasures, including this Mercedes, to finance the work and make way for a collection focused on the history of the Indy 500. Bearing chassis number 00009/54, it was gifted by Mercedes to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and delivered on Sunday, May 30, 1965. Needless to say, its value back then had not reached such heights! For nearly six decades, it was carefully stored and maintained by the Museum, only leaving for brief appearances at prestigious elegance contests such as Pebble Beach 2024.

Today, the W 196 R remains an essential reference, a symbol of the power and innovation that marked the history of motorsport.

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