Cashed up Formula 1 history buffs have an awesome opportunity to outdo their mates by buying the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 driven by five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio. The W196 goes under the hammer at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s expected to fetch around £5 million.
Powered by a 2.5 litre straight eight cylinder engine Fangio used chassis 0006 to win the 1954 German and Swiss Grands Prix. Those successes helped him claim the second of his five world titles. The W196 was used again in 1955 helping Fangio to his third championship.
Chassis 0006 is the only W196 in private hands, the rest are owned by Mercedes. So you’d better not miss your chance to buy this one!
The car is being offered for sale by the Bonhams auction house and they’ve also made a video available, which shows the car in action in 1954 and can see after the break. In 2011 Mercedes took a couple of restored W196 models back to the Nürburgring, for more on that head over to AUSringers.
[Source: Bonhams]