1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen

Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, and Tony Hulman. The paths of these three racing legends would converge on one of the most coveted automobiles ever produced, the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen. Chassis number 00009/54 was originally completed in December 1954 as an open-wheel car built to 1954 Formula One specifications, the same time Stirling Moss was hired to join Fangio at Mercedes. Fangio drove this car in the 1955 Formula Libre Buenos Aires Grand Prix, a non-points event, with Moss in a sister car, and Fangio taking the win. Fangio and Moss would finish 1-2 at both the Belgian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix later that year. The car would later be fitted with its Stromlinienwagen for the race at Monza, where Fangio took another win. Mercedes would donate the car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965, where track owner Tony Hulman would care for the car for the next 59 years. RM Sotheby's will auction the car at an upcoming event, where its expected to fetch as much as $55 million.