The record-breaking $55 million USD 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner
Few cars transcend their era to become immortal, but the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner has done just that. A symbol of engineering brilliance and motorsport dominance, this rare Formula One machine has shattered records, selling for an astonishing $55.3 million USD at RM Sotheby’s, making it the most valuable Mercedes-Benz competition car ever auctioned.
With a history steeped in victory, this particular W 196 R carried Juan Manuel Fangio to triumph in Buenos Aires and saw Stirling Moss set the fastest lap at Monza. After its racing career, it spent nearly six decades under careful preservation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, gracing prestigious events and remaining a touchstone of automotive excellence.
A pivotal force in Mercedes-Benz’s back-to-back Formula One World Championships in 1954 and 1955, the W 196 R was ahead of its time, pioneering groundbreaking technology that shaped both racing and road cars. Now, with its unmistakable Monza livery and a record-breaking sale, it secures its place as not just a car, but a true icon that’s forever etched in the history of motorsport!