Auction: 300 SL from the world champion comes to St. Moritz
EXCLUSIVE Juan Manuel Fangio shaped the early years of Formula 1 like no other and is still considered one of the most successful racing drivers of all time. He won the title of world champion five times.
The Argentine (center gallery) started his career in South America before World War II, and in 1949 he took part in Europe for the first time on an Alfa Romeo in the San Remo Grand Prix race, which he won outright. A year later Fangio was runner-up, in 1951 for the first time world champion, in 1954 he triumphed for the second time on Maserati.
1955 World Champion with a Silver Arrow
In the same year he signed a contract with Mercedes-Benz and became world champion for the third time in 1955 with a Silver Arrow. After the Stuttgart company withdrew from racing at the end of the year, Fangio switched to Ferrari and became world champion for the fourth time in 1956 and the fifth time in 1957 - this time again on a Maserati. He was 46 years old at the time. He ended his career in 1958.
President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina
Despite his brief association with Mercedes-Benz as a racing driver, his contact with the company as a businessman with the brand remained permanent. He built an engine plant for Daimler-Benz in his native Argentina and worked as president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina from 1974.
As a farewell gift to him as a racing driver, Daimler-Benz AG had presented him in 1958 with an exclusive Mercedes 300 SL Roadster in light blue metallic with cream-colored leather upholstery in the interior in the colors of the Argentine national flag. Fangio personally drove this car over more than 70,000 kilometers in Europe and his native South America.
Concours of Elegance on frozen lake
The car is currently at the London branch of Sotheby's auction house until it arrives on February 26 for the ICE - The International Concours of Elegance on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. Here, the beauty of the Engadine winter competes with the beauty of noble vehicles: top-class gems - 50 vintage, classic and racing cars.
Deal should work like private sale
On the sidelines of the event, interested parties of the Fangio-300 SL can place a bid at RM Sotheby's between February 28 and March 4, 2022. The car is not expected to change hands in one of the usual auctions, but the deal will work like a private sale.
It's probably safe to assume that the amount will be a respectable seven-figure euro sum. After all, who can claim to have their name on the registration certificate of a Mercedes 300 SL as the second owner after Juan Manuel Fangio?
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