Mercedes-Benz: Fangio greets in life size
REMEMBER A photo together with Juan Manuel Fangio is a great souvenir of a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. In the exhibition this is not possible, but directly in front of the building without any problems.
A two-part bronze sculpture has stood on the side in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum since 2006. It depicts five-time Formula 1 World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio in life-size and his Silver Arrow W 196 R. When does one have the opportunity to come face to face with such a famous racing driver and even take a seat behind the wheel of his Silver Arrow?
Fangio has his right hand on the steering wheel and his helmet under his left arm. But he doesn't get in. He gives visitors the opportunity to take a seat in the W 196 R from 1954 and 1955. Best opportunity for a selfie or photo.
Duplicate from Barcelona to Stuttgart
The work of art at the Mercedes-Benz Museum defies wind and weather. It is a cast of a monument that stands at the Circuit de Catalunya racetrack in Barcelona. It was created at the turn of the millennium by the Catalan artist Joaquim Ros i Sabaté on behalf of the Real Automóvil Club de Cataluña.
The sculpture impressed, and so the then Daimler Chrysler Classic initiated further variants in agreement with the artist. Supporters of the project are the Fangio Foundation in Balcarce, Argentina, where Fangio was born, and the mineral oil company Repsol as a further sponsor. The Spanish foundry Barberí produced five copies.
Castings at selected race sites
The legendary motor sportsman Fangio died in Buenos Aires in July 1995 at the age of 84. All the casts were therefore placed posthumously and at locations related to Juan Manuel Fangio: at the Nürburgring, in Monaco near the Rascasse curve, in Monza at the local Autodromo, in Buenos Aires in front of the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz Argentina - and at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The sculpture was erected for the museum's opening in 2006.
