This year a Mercedes grand prix ™ car raced by Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio fetched an eye-popping record of €51.155m (£42.7m ), at auction in Stuttgart. It’s the highest amount ever paid for a grand prix ™ car so far. The sleek, silver W196 R Stromlinienwagen, one of only four complete examples in existence, was sold by RM Sotheby’s at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany, on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
This high price was achieved in recognition of the fact that Chassis no. 196 010 00006/54 is the only example of the model available in private hands — all its surviving sisters being in original manufacturer or institutional Museum hands. This particular car is also the most successful of all surviving W196R cars — being the one driven by Juan Manuel Fangio to win the 1954 German & European Grand Prix ™ at the Nurburgring, and then adding a second consecutive victory in the 1954 Swiss GP ™ at Berne’s Bremgarten circuit.
Perfect for Monza
And yes, you might have guessed, a W196 R Stromlinienwagen won at Monza, a favourite circuit of Monegasque ace Charles Leclerc who won the 2019 Italian Grand Prix ™ there while driving for Ferrari. This Prancing Horse win by Leclerc was a historic victory, as it marked Ferrari’s first win at Monza since 2010. It made Charles a hero among the Tifosi, as he became the first Ferrari driver in nearly a decade to win at the Scuderia’s home circuit. Leclerc was to repeat the feat spectacularly in 2024 after winning the Monaco Grand Prix ™ in May 2024, becoming the first Monegasque driver to win his home race in Monaco since Louis Chiron in 1931. It was in September 2024 that Leclerc secured that other significant victory at Monza, delivering yet another thrilling win for Ferrari at their home circuit.
Back to this record-breaking Mercedes racing car at auction, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R “Stromlinienwagen” (Streamlined Body). It was specifically designed for high-speed circuits like Monza (Italian Grand Prix ™) and Reims (French Grand Prix ™). It performed exceptionally well at these circuits, securing podium finishes at:
1954 Italian Grand Prix ™ (Monza) – Winner
• Driver: Juan Manuel Fangio
• Result: 1st place (Securing what was then the second victory in a streamlined W196R)
The first victory for a W196R was in France at the 1954 French Grand Prix ™ (Reims) – Winner
• Driver: Juan Manuel Fangio
• Result: 1st place (Debut race for the W196R, achieving a dominant 1-2 finish with Karl Kling)
Designed In the Hope to be Perfect for Monaco: The Open Wheel Version of the W196
The streamlined version was highly effective on these fast circuits but proved less suitable for tighter tracks like the Nürburgring and Monaco, where Mercedes later introduced the open-wheel version for better handling. In the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix ™, Stirling Moss drove the open-wheel W196, but he retired with engine failure while leading, the same fate befalling his teammate Juan Manuel Fangio.
The open-wheel version of the W196, the same design which raced at Monaco, itself broke auction records when it sold in 2013. Would it beat the new record of €51m if came to auction today? Maybe it lacks the panache of actually winning in Monaco? Anyway it remains the 50 million euro question!
@alamy.com
What other car could break that record if it came to auction?
What if the Monaco raced Toleman-Hart TG184 had been in mint condition? It is highly significant in Formula 1 ™ history due to its association with Ayrton Senna’s stunning performance in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix ™. It certainly would break well into the Top Ten, if in mint condition. In that race, Senna drove the TG184 in terrible weather conditions and finished in second place, which marked the beginning of his legendary relationship with the Monaco Grand Prix ™. This result propelled Senna to fame, even though he was still a relatively unknown driver at the time.
And then we have to ask ourselves how much would the winning Ferrari SF-24 driven by Charles Leclerc sell for, the one in which he won the Monaco Grand Prix ™ in 2024. That would give it a sufficiently unique pedigree to attract the buyers with the deepest pockets. As auction prices break records and find ever-dizzying heights when will we ever see 100 million euros breached!
The Monaco Grand Prix ™ “TOP TEN”
So the allure of Formula 1’s rich history and engineering marvels has led to numerous iconic cars as well as the Mercedes W196 R Stromlinienwagen fetching staggering sums at auctions. Many of these vehicles boast significant ties to the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix ™, either through participation or podium finishes. Here’s a look at the top 10 auction results for F1 ™ and Grand Prix ™ cars that have graced the streets of Monte-Carlo, ranked by their sale prices from highest to lowest.
1. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R — Sold for £19,601,500
Monaco Connection: Driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, this legendary car competed in the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix ™. Though Fangio secured pole position both he and Stirling Moss who was also driving a W196R retired due to transmission issues. The sale occurred at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in 2013. The car fetched this record of £19,601,500 (or $29,650,000 at the time), making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction at that time.
2. 2003 Ferrari F2003 GA F1 — Sold for $ 14,880,000
Monaco Connection: This is the car in which Michael Schumacher had a third place podium finish in Monaco in 2003 and won his sixth driver’s world championship, in addition to five overall Grand Prix ™ victories. It sold for an astonishing CHF14,630,000 (US$ 14,880,000) at the Sotheby’s Luxury Week sale 2022 in Geneva. The result was almost double the previous record price for a modern Formula 1 ™ racing car.
3. 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 — Sold for €7,655,000
Monaco Connection: Jody Scheckter piloted this Ferrari to victory at the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix ™. This win played a key role in his securing the World Championship ™ that year.
4. 2001 Ferrari F2001 — Sold for $7,504,000
Monaco Connection: Michael Schumacher drove this car to victory at the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix ™, further solidifying his dominance in the sport.
5. 2002 Ferrari F2002 — Sold for $6,643,750
Monaco Connection: This car just missed winning at Monaco in 2002, placing second. It was part of Michael Schumacher’s dominant 2002 season, which led to his fifth World Championship ™ title. Schumacher won the Monaco Grand Prix ™ 5 times, his last win being in 2001.
6. 1998 McLaren MP4/13 — Sold for $4,200,000
Monaco Connection: Mika Häkkinen piloted this McLaren to a win at the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix ™, demonstrating McLaren’s competitive edge during that season.
7. 1991 Williams FW14 — Sold for €4,055,000
Monaco Connection: Nigel Mansell drove this car during the 1991 season, including at the Monaco Grand Prix ™, where he finished second, securing a podium position.
8. 1989 Ferrari 640 — Sold for €3,605,000
Monaco Connection: Nigel Mansell raced this car in the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix ™, where he started from pole position but retired due to a gearbox failure while leading the race.
9. 1993 McLaren MP4/8A — Sold for £3,600,000
Monaco Connection: Ayrton Senna piloted this car to his record sixth and final Monaco Grand Prix ™ victory in 1993, showcasing his unmatched skill on the circuit.
10. 1992 Williams FW14B — Sold for £2,703,000
Monaco Connection: Nigel Mansell was dominating the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix ™ in this car, leading from the start. A late-race issue cost him the win. The 78-lap race was actually won by Ayrton Senna, driving a McLaren-Honda. Drivers’ Championship ™ leader Nigel Mansell had taken pole position in his Williams-Renault and led until lap 71, when he suspected he had a puncture and made a pit stop for new tyres. He emerged behind Senna, closed up to the Brazilian and tried to find a way past but without success, Senna holding on to win by 0.2 seconds. It was Senna’s fifth Monaco Grand Prix ™ win, equalling the record set by Graham Hill.
And an honourable mention for the car that would be in eleventh place and that just missed out on the Top 10 —
The 1984 Toleman-Hart TG184
Monaco Connection: This car became famous as Ayrton Senna’s vehicle during his remarkable debut at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix ™. Despite torrential rain, Senna finished second, marking the beginning of his legendary association with Monaco. The car was auctioned by Bonhams in Monaco on May 11, 2018, and sold for $1,921,374 even without being in mint condition.
These auction results highlight the enduring legacy and desirability of Formula 1 ™ cars, especially those with significant histories at the Monaco Grand Prix ™. Their performances on the challenging streets of Monte-Carlo have cemented their status as prized collectibles among enthusiasts and collectors alike.
