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Mercedes-Benz loves to score doubles. In July 1954, the automaker introduced the W196 Stromlinienwagen at the French Grand Prix, where it took first and second place. And now, 71 years later, Mercedes has scored another double victory, but in a different battle - it can now claim to have two of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction.
A rare Stromlinienwagen, chassis number 00009/54, sold for 51,2 million euros at auction the first weekend of February 2025.
RM Sotheby's auctioned chassis number 00009/54 at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, recognizing the efforts made to restore it.
Mercedes donated the car to an American museum in 1965. It is now the second most expensive car ever sold at auction, behind only the Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which sold for $2022 million in 143.
A little history
Mercedes began testing chassis number 00009 in December 1954, initially in open-wheel bodywork. The car made its racing debut at a non-Formula One event in Argentina in January 1, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. This campaign used the 1955-litre M196 engine, which Mercedes mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
The car finished its racing career at the Italian Grand Prix in September 1955, driven by Sir Stirling Moss. It sported a rare streamlined bodywork and performed well in the race, but Moss was forced to retire after 27 laps due to a problem with the number five cylinder. However, he did set the fastest lap of the race (2'46.900).
Mercedes only produced a limited number of magnesium Streamliner bodies, weighing just over 40kg. The automaker used the aerodynamic bodies for high-speed circuits, using them intermittently during the 1954 and 1955 seasons. It's an incredibly special piece of racing history, so it's no surprise to see such a large sum at auction.
Sources: Motor1 and RM Sotheby's
