A 1954 Mercedes W196R race car driven by Juan Manuel Fangio has been sold for $29,650,095 at the Bonhams Goodwood Sale.
The mind-boggling price means the vehicle has simultaneously become the most expensive car ever sold at auction, the most valuable Formula 1 racing car ever sold and the most expensive Mercedes-Benz in history – according to Bonhams.
The iconic race car wears chassis number 00006/54 and features a 2.5-liter straight-eight engine. Fangio used it to win both the German and Swiss Grand Prixs in 1954.
In a statement Bonhams Chairman Robert Brooks said, “I have handled some of the world’s most desirable and important motor cars during a motoring auction career spanning five decades, but I have reached a peak today with this legendary Grand Prix car. It was a personal privilege to preside over the sale of this vehicle, which is not only one of the most significant motor cars of the 20th century, but also the most important historic Grand Prix racing car ever offered for sale.”