Mercedes driven by two F1 greats set for obscene record

An iconic Mercedes streamliner from the 1950s could smash the world record for an F1 car when it goes under the hammer. 

Driven by five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss, regarded as the greatest driver never to win the title, a Mercedes-Benz 1954 W196 streamliner is being put up for auction by RM Sothebys. 

The current record for the sale of an F1 car is GBP 19.6 million (€23.2 million, USD 23.9 million), which was another example of a Mercedes W196 streamliner, sold back in 2013.

However, chassis 00009/54 is now up for auction and is only the second of the 14 W196 machines built to ever be offered for private ownership. 

RM Sothebys are inviting bids to start from GBP 41.5 million, (€50.0 million, USD 50.0 million), which if sold, would mean the car would almost double the record set just 12 years ago. 

Fangio used chassis 00009/54 to win the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix, with the car in its 'open-wheel' configuration, with the streamlining removed.

The car was then handed to Moss for the 1955 Italian GP, where it was fitted once again with the iconic streamlining, as he posted fastest lap whilst Fangio won once again in a sister streamliner. 

The lucky purchaser will need to carefully restore the car, prior to starting or driving it, after many years on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. 

Mercedes only used the W196 streamliners between 1954 and 1955, where Fangio and Karl Kling banked one-two on the team's debut at the 1954 French Grand Prix with the new cars stunning fans and fellow drivers.

After Fangio had won the 1954 and 1955 drivers' titles, Mercedes withdrew from F1 in the wake of the 1955 Le Mans disaster where a Mercedes driven by Pierre Levagh crashed into the crowd, killing himself and 83 spectators. 

It would not return to F1 until the 1990s as an engine supplier to McLaren, eventually taking over Brawn GP in time for the 2010 season, becoming the team that is known today.

Check out a gallery of images below and click here to see RM Sotheby's advertisement.