In seven Method 1 seasons, Argentinian driver Juan Manuel Fangio was World Champion 5 instances with 4 completely different groups: Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Maserati. Two of these had been back-to-back wins for Mercedes-Benz in 1954 and 1955 in a streamlined W 196 R “Silver Arrow.”
That exact same Fangio race automotive shall be on show this weekend as a part of a curated Mercedes-Benz exhibition at ModaMiami in Florida. Additionally anticipated on the Biltmore Resort are a number of 300 SL Gullwings, two 300 SL Roadsters, and a Pebble Seashore Greatest in Present 540 Okay Particular Roadster. One of many Roadsters was Fangio’s private automotive, given to him by Mercedes-Benz when he retired.
Solely fourteen W 196 R machines had been constructed, together with the prototype, and solely a handful nonetheless exist. Fangio’s championship instance was offered at public sale in 2013 for practically $30 million, which Bonhams then stated was a report worth for any automotive offered at public sale, any F1 automotive offered, and any Mercedes-Benz offered. At this time, solely a type of is true; Fangio’s world championship W 196 R retains the title as the costliest F1 automotive offered at public sale.
In the meantime, the Silver Arrow quickly to be on show in Miami is the one Fangio drove when he gained the 1955 Dutch Grand Prix. The Quantity 8 has a everlasting house on the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany. Fangio was a legend in some ways, so having an opportunity to see a automotive that bears his fingerprints is one thing particular.
Born right into a working-class household in Italy, Fangio grew up in Argentina, the place he began working as a mechanic at age 11. He had unimaginable stamina and information, and by all accounts was charming and enjoyable to be round. Even when Castro’s rebels in Cuba kidnaped him on the eve of his retirement, he was launched unhurt and on good phrases together with his captors. Solely the querulous Enzo Ferrari had beef with Fangio, and which will have been as a result of the favored Argentinian had opted to drive for one more producer on the time.
“Fangio didn’t stay loyal to any marque,” Ferrari reportedly stated. “And he invariably used each endeavor to make sure that he would all the time drive the very best automotive out there.”
This uncommon gem shall be on show on the Biltmore Resort in Coral Gables from Friday, March 1, by Sunday, March 3 throughout ModaMiami.
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