The most important and historic Grand Prix racing car, the 1954 2½-liter straight-8 Mercedes-Benz W196 einsitzer is being brought to the auction block by Bonhams. The car bearing chassis number ‘00006/54’, became immediately popular after its first racing victory for being the first open-wheeled slipper bodied postwar Mercedes to win a Formula 1 race. Mercedes Benz has a fantastic record at auctions, be it their race cars or sporty cars. Their 540k model from 1937 holds the record for being the most expensive Mercedes Benz for the price it fetched in an auction. The 1954 model of the racing car will be part of Bonhams’ annual sale at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
World Champion Driver Juan Manuel Fangio Won Several Races With the Car
The car is important because World Champion Driver Juan Manuel Fangio won both the 1954 German and Swiss Grand Prix races while driving this car. In the postwar Formula 1 racing comeback it was the innovative W196 design of the car that brought new cutting edge technology to the tracks. The sporty car was associated with Driver Juan Manuel Fangio and gave him a string of victories in the races and the World Championship title. It is the record of victories of the car that has given it the extra special status and has made Robert Brooks, the chairman of Bonham’s excited about the auction at the upcoming Goodwood event.
This Car Brought Many New Elements of Design and Technology to Formula 1
The Formula 1 team at the Mercedes Benz factory incorporated various new elements of design and technology in this car including fuel injected engine, all-independent suspension, multi-tubular space frame lightweight chassis design, in-mounted braking system, straight-8 engine design for a low height, and a power take off from the engine’s crankshaft which minimized vibrations of the vehicle. It showed in the performance of the car which won several races under a good driver. The car with a rich history is definitely one of the most significant car to go under a hammer. It is sure to attract the attention of the serious car collectors and its auction is bound to witness some aggressive bidding.
