At the end of this February, a legendary car that belonged to an equally unforgettable driver will go on sale through the RM Sotheby’s auction house. This is a 1958 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster, which belonged to five-time Formula 1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio. The Argentine got this car as a gift, following the announcement of retirement from competitions.
The car, whose value is very high (currently RM Sotheby’s only talks about it through private talks with interested buyers), was one of Fangio’s favorites. He used it for long journeys in Europe and South America, accumulating 70,000 kilometers. It’s not a rare 300 SL Roadster, but life alongside a champion is what makes it special. In fact, it is assumed that the interior, rather worn, is not a determining factor in lowering the final sale price.
After the assiduous use of the Argentine driver, the car in metallic blue with cream leather interior (a tribute to the flag of the South American country) was placed at the Juan Manuel Fangio Museum in Balcarce since its foundation in 1986. From the moment of retirement, the car still had the opportunity to ‘stretch’ by participating in selected events.
Fangio remained linked to the Mercedes brand thanks to some episodes experienced during his career. During the two-year period 1954-1955, the Argentine driver was struck by the German team’s attention to detail, a direct expression of the Stuttgart brand’s desire to dominate motor racing. Just like Fangio, the technicians and mechanics were driven by the search for mechanical and aerodynamic perfection. After retiring from racing, the relationship between the driver and Mercedes continued, to such an extent that Fangio was appointed president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina SA in 1974.
The reasons why the Foundation that manages the museum allowed the car to be sold are linked to the heirs of the champion. In 2015 Fangio’s body was exhumed, to carry out tests capable of determining the blood relationship with some applicants; the ties were finally confirmed. The new heirs therefore signed an agreement with the museum, which sold them the car; from this contract resulted in the sale of the champion’s personal Mercedes. The other cars in the museum are protected by a stringent pact signed with the state, and are therefore not available for sale.
#Fangios #Mercedes #sale #FormulaPassionit