Mercedes W196 F1 Racer sells for $30 MILLION

[Kayvan]

http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/12/autos/mercedes-record-auction/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Kayvan]

http://www.sportscardigest.com/mercedes-benz-w196-breaks-auction-record/

[Cees Klumper]

That's about a 1,000 decent Pagodas.

[mdsalemi]

Crazy money...so crazy I don't think the MB Museum had any interest...but I bet it has them scouring the basement and storage facilities to see what they can find for auction! 

[Jonny B]

Crazy money indeed, but one of one, and a highly desirable piece of auto history. Also the only one of the MB GP cars of that era that was outside of MB ownership. High, yes; crazy, yes; completely unexpected - perhaps not.

I wonder who bought it?

[mdsalemi]

I wonder who bought it?

If he wanted you to know, he wouldn't have been an anonymous bidder.  Maybe this piece of history will just disappear.

In 1957 or so, there was a long article on the American Mercedes of 1905-1907 published in the Star.  It was serialized over three issues; and put together with such detail and depth that isn't seen today.  The authors--three of them--talked about only four survivors at that time.  Even then, the car was old; remarkable, extremely rare--and surely would be treated with care and respect.  Today, there's only one we know about.  What happened to the other three?  Whoever knows is long dead, I'm afraid. Crazy people with crazy money buy these things and lock them up.  Then in another 50 years, we'll have a rare "barn find"...that's my take on it.

Tell your kids/grandkids about this rare race car...maybe it will surface when they are old, for surely it is bound to disappear!

[Bob G ✝︎]

Very sad news today in the Automotive world. Fangios & Herman & kling's W196-S sold at the Bonhams Auctions
for  Classic Mercedes SL sportscar owners and fans    
 July 13, 2013  
  
 

  
Fangio's Mercedes becomes most valuable car ever sold by auction (£19,601,500, US$29,650,095, €22,701,864) at Bonhams Goodwood Sale  

Started by Leon van Dijk, Mercedes-restorer  
 Like · Flag  
  
Bonhams Auction News: The legendary 1954 W196R - 300SLR Silver Arrow, driven by Fangio, Hermann & Kling just sold at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed for 17.5 million Pounds Sterling   Another car that will never be seen again. So sad!

Started by Leon van Dijk, Mercedes-restorer
 Bob Geco