31.6 million US$: auction record price for Mercedes-Benz type W 196 R Silver Arrow

At the �Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale� conducted by British auction house Bonhams on 12 July 2013, all eyes turned to lot number 320: a Mercedes-Benz type W 196 R Grand Prix racing car � an original grand prix car of Juan Manuel Fangio dating from 1954 and to date the only post-war Silver Arrow in private ownership. The hammer fell at 17.5 Million GBP � a record price for an auction car. The vehicle was sold to a so far unidentified telephone bidder who effectively pays 20,896,800 GBP (about 31.6 million US$) including due premiums.

�The result of the auction just goes to show the exceptionally high level of respect enjoyed by historical Mercedes-Benz vehicles among collectors�, said Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. �We would like to congratulate the unidentified bidder on their purchase and will be only too happy to lend them support � if they so wish � during the next stages of their acquisition.�

In total there are only 10 examples of the 14 vehicles which were previously built of this model still in existence: six W 196 R models belong to the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection, a further three vehicles are in museums in Turin, Vienna and Indianapolis; and the vehicle which was put up for auction in Goodwood, with chassis number 006/54. This vehicle already was the only remaining original Silver Arrow from the post-war period which is in private ownership.

It was at the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow type W 196 R with chassis number 006/54 that Juan Manuel Fangio won the German and Swiss Grand Prix races in 1954. With these victories Fangio laid the foundations for his first Formula 1 World Championship title with Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the Stuttgart-based brand also celebrated a triumphant return to the sport of Grand Prix with the W 196 R in 1954 .

Prior to the auction, experts from Mercedes-Benz Classic carried out extensive checks on the Silver Arrow, which was donated by the then Daimler-Benz AG to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu (England) in 1973 and sold by the museum 1980, as part of a manufacturer�s expert report . Based on these detailed checks and the full set of documentation compiled by Mercedes-Benz Classic, the brand historians produced a detailed expert�s report confirming the vehicle�s originality and authenticity. �Our expert�s report means that the new owner need have no uncertainties whatsoever about this racing car�, said Michael Bock. �It fully and unequivocally confirms the history and originality of the vehicle.� The fact that Mercedes-Benz Classic provides such a high level of expertise for collectors and fans of the brand�s historical cars adds to the positive trend in the value of Mercedes-Benz classic vehicles.

Did you know?
The history of the S-Class is the subject of a special exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum which runs until 3 November 2013.

Credits: Daimler AG

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