Sometimes at auction, a truly special car can come up for sale. But it is very rare that the car of one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers is going to be one of those that crops up. RM Sotheby’s though are lucky enough to have this former Juan-Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster from 1958 up for sale, and it is a highly original car. There are some fascinating stats behind this car that make it quite the remarkable machine.
Driven By Fangio For Many Miles
Sotheby’s state that this was one of Fangio’s favorite cars, and one he chose for the final chapter of his career. It was lovingly presented to him by Mercedes in 1958 as a retirement present, and Fangio has put a total of just over 43,000 miles on the car for tours in Europe and South America. It might be the car that Fangio covered the most distance in. The car was in the ownership of Fangio for his whole latter life before passing to his family after he died, and Fangio even used the car for his Mercedes-Benz ambassadorial duties in South America.
A Truly Special Mercedes-Benz
The car itself is in a stunning Metallic Light Blue with a Cream leather interior. Under the hood of this fabulous Mercedes is a straight six, 3.0-liter engine that, remarkably, is the matching number's original engine. Also matching numbers are the chassis, the body, gearbox, differential, hood frame and the hardtop. Perhaps the most remarkable thing of all is that the Cream interior is also original, with wear and tear from the great Fangio himself present, plus there is a unique shift knob fitted by Fangio too. The car for many years was also on display at the Juan Manuel Fangio Museum in his hometown of Balcarce, Argentina.
Set To Go For A Remarkable Sum Of Money
The Sotheby’s listing of the car states that an estimate of its value will be available upon request. But it is probably fair to say that the car will go for a big amount of money thanks to its rarity and the Fangio connection. The new owner of this car would be only the car's second registered owner in its entire history, and would also own an amazing part of the history of one of motorsport's greatest ever drivers. This truly is a wondrous and incredible piece of automotive history.
Source: RM Sotheby's