Silver Arrow for sale Fangio/Moss W196R

This uniquely storied ex-Fangio and Moss Mercedes-Benz W196R Streamliner is soon to be sold. Glen Waddington visits Stuttgart for an exclusive insight into its past

Photography Mercedes-Benz Heritage

The white gloves are on, though in this case the archive has come to us, rather than the other way round. We’re in the workshop of Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach, Stuttgart, ten minutes from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Untertürkheim, which will soon play an important role in the car we’re here to see. And what a car.

On the ramp in the corner is the 1954 W196R Stromlinienrennwagen (‘streamlined racing car’), chassis no. 00009/54, unique in that it was raced by both Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, and also unique in that it is the first W196R with streamlined body ever to be offered for private ownership. It has belonged to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in the USA since 1965, when it was presented by none other than Mercedes-Benz’s engineering genius Rudolf Uhlenhaut in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Ralph DePalma’s victory there in the 1915 Indy 500, driving a Mercedes 115hp.

‘The Classic Center was commissioned to prepare a manufacturer’s report to verify its authenticity,’ says Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage. ‘Our experts conducted research in the company archives and compared original documents and images with the specific vehicle. In addition, the individual assemblies were analysed using a variety of investigative methods. We’ve been able to gain key insights and, not least, confirm that the racing car has its original chassis.’

ft Today, fresh from Indianapolis, soon heading for a new owner;

Significance on four wheels, then. Four enclosed wheels, given that this car is presented in its Monza livery from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, as one of four known complete W196R chassis fitted with the factory-built streamlined coachwork at the conclusion of the 1955 season. But it didn’t begin life that way.