When Mercedes decided to return to Grand Prix racing for the new 1954 formula that limited engine capacity to 2.5 litres, the Rennabteilung (racing department) really shook up the conventional design patterns that had been set by them twenty years previously with the all-conquering 1930’s Mercedes Silver Arrows and the competing Auto Union Type C open wheeled racers. The racing car they introduced in late 1953 with the futuristic and voluptuously beautiful bodywork is known as the W196R model. Several variants of the car were driven to victory in nine out of the twelve races they were entered into by two guys you may well have heard of, Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio. Mercedes engineers constantly modified and evolved the design throughout the 1954-55 seasons and a total of fifteen units were constructed, each of them unique in many ways.
Well, let’s just say you want one. Forget about it. The only one that sold in recent history was an open wheel version, trading in at just under 32 Million USD! Probably the only way to buy one now is to put in an offer to buy Mercedes Benz Company as a whole… there is a story that states an Arab gentleman offered $100 million for the car in the Benz museum, and they laughed him away… so I think you are almost out of options…
The first car has been developed by our friend Hermann Sommers. His company is Streamliner Motors, in the UK. We have been working with Hermann for a few years on the development and promotion of this magnificent car. Two cars have been built thus far. The first one is on display space at the famed Brooklands Racetrack, located in the Mercedes-Benz-World Centre of Excellence and is often found right next to the main entrance. The second car was recently fielded against full blown Grand Prix machinery and Sommersell’s driver Ed McDonough was able to secure 4th overall in the famous Cholmondeley Hill Climb in England.
This car has a presence that is hard to define. With it’s raw burnished aluminum body, tartan plaid seat, vintage spoked wheel, specially designed classic gauges and knock-off spokes, you are immediately picturing yourself in some cool classic racing goggles and leathers, blazing your favorite country road.
While the look is purely vintage, the drive is not. Sitting firmly planted in the centre of the car with your legs comfortably splayed out just like the original, the drive is surprisingly modern and precise, with a precision built tubular chassis and all that contemporary, highly reliable Mercedes mechanical goodness. The large vintage steering wheel keeps it real by not isolating you from the road surface, but uniting you with it. The 260hp straight six makes great burbling sounds out of the two stacked side exhaust pipes that turn into a satisfyingly vicious snarl as you manipulate the go pedal up to the 7,000 RPM redline limit. The car is light enough to steer with the throttle, yet docile enough to take out for a mellow cruiser if you keep your foot out of it.
We are proud to collaborate with Hermann to offer you such a vehicle. We have developed variants on the car that include the original single seat design, as well as a two seater. The ICON versions will be built in the UK and here at our facility in Los Angles.
