Classic Digest

The recent auction of the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen (chassis No. 00009/54) has turned heads—not just for its eye-watering $53.9 million hammer price, but for the fact that, in the grand scheme of historic racing machines, it was an absolute bargain.

This particular W 196 R is one of only four ever built with the enclosed-fender ‘Stromlinienwagen’ body, a design aimed at maximizing aerodynamic efficiency. More than just a rare artifact, this car boasts an incredible racing pedigree. Five-time Formula 1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio piloted it to victory in the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, and later that same year, Stirling Moss took the wheel at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Moss even led the race at one point before mechanical issues forced his retirement. That kind of history is priceless—or at least, you would think so.

Curiously, after its active racing days, the car was gifted to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965, where it spent decades out of the public eye, hidden away in the Basement Collection and accessible only to select VIPs. For a machine of this stature, such obscurity is baffling.

Yet, while $53.9 million might seem astronomical to the casual observer, in the elite world of collector cars, it’s actually a steal. Consider the Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4153GT, which fetched a staggering $70 million in 2018. As legendary as the GTO is, it is, at its core, a modified 250 GT with sleek bodywork—not exactly in the same league as a purpose-built, championship-winning Formula 1 machine.

Even more astonishing is the 2024 auction of an ultra-rare Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which changed hands for a jaw-dropping €135 million (approximately $145 million). The 300 SLR, while a technological marvel and a direct descendant of the W 196 R, was essentially a road-going adaptation rather than a pure-bred Grand Prix car. And yet, it sold for nearly three times the price of the W 196 R Stromlinienwagen.

When put into perspective, the W 196 R’s final price appears almost modest. It remains one of the most significant racing cars ever built, a direct link to motorsport’s golden age, and a machine that helped cement Mercedes-Benz’s dominance in Formula 1. Whoever acquired it not only owns a piece of automotive history but also scored an incredible deal compared to other legendary classics.

In the rarified world of historic race cars, it seems, even a $53.9 million purchase can qualify as a bargain!

Photos courtesy of RM Sotheby's