An ex-Fangio and Moss Mercedes about to break a record?

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful pieces ever auctioned by RM Sotheby's in its history. Accustomed to offering unique cars, often reaching staggering sums, the specialist house could soon set a new sales record thanks to this Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen from 1954.

What's so special about it? This Mercedes was built for the Star's return to racing – after the Second World War – in 1954. A total of 14 chassis were built. Over two years, the German manufacturer achieved 10 victories in 14 starts (9 for Juan Manuel Fangio and 1 for Sterling Moss) before stopping its sports programmes after the tragedy at Le Mans in 1955. It was with this W 196 R Stromlinienwagen that the Argentinian won two of his five world crowns (1954 and 1955).

At the time, the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen was built with the possibility of carrying two types of bodywork. One integral (streamlined) for high-speed circuits like Monza in order to reduce air resistance. The other classic, with the wheels uncovered for more winding tracks.

It was also at Monza in 1955 that Stirling Moss set the fastest lap of the Italian Grand Prix. It is in this specific configuration that this Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, chassis 00009/54 and bearing the Englishman's number 16, is offered by RM Sotheby's for this sale scheduled for February 1st.

Stirling Moss here behind Juan Manuel Fangio at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix. © Mercede-Benz AG

Retired from competition in 1955 to be preserved in the brand's collection, this car was offered by Mercedes to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965, which decided to make it available.

Its price is estimated at 50 million euros! This would make the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen the F1 the most expensive ever sold, surpassing... another W196R, but with open wheels, which sold for 22 million euros in 2013. Mercedes definitely knows how to create some serious machines.

Gallery of the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen from 1954

(Photos: Mercedes-Benz AG)

ALSO READ > Porsche 917 from the movie "Le Mans" and ex-Steve McQueen to be auctioned