London, England, 4th February 2022 |
Throughout its years of personal ownership as one of Fangio’s most treasured cars, the 300 SL was known to
follow the driver around the world. It is believed that almost all of the 72,951 km currently showing on the
odometer was accrued at the hands of Fangio. He received the car in England and immediately embarked on
a driving tour of Europe with his girlfriend Andrea Berruet, playing out his new role as an ambassador for
Mercedes-Benz. One of the most memorable pieces of footage of Fangio is an “onboard” of him drifting a
Maserati 250F at the Modena Autodrome, and it is fitting that at the very beginning of the film, Fangio draws
up alongside his 250F in this very 300 SL. This 300 SL would be used by Fangio for his Mercedes-Benz
ambassadorial work in Europe up until 1960. |
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Thereafter, Fangio worked with senior figures from the German marque to develop Mercedes-Benz’s market
share in the driver’s native South America. The 300 SL Roadster was exported from Europe to
Argentina—curiously, declared in the transfer as a “trophy” to circumvent contemporary taxes on bringing
automobiles into the country—and Fangio would resume the ambassadorial role that he started in Europe,
much of which was achieved from behind the wheel of this car. First registered in Argentina in March 1960
and from that time, Fangio would continue to use the Roadster extensively throughout the next two decades,
fulfilling appearances at new Mercedes-Benz showrooms as the German company expanded its dealer
network in South America, Fangio was known to travel between appointments in his beloved 300 SL. When
Silvana Suárez was crowned “Miss World” in 1978, she undertook a parade on the streets perched atop the
rear seats with Fangio at the wheel. The 300 SL twice attended the 1000 Millas with Fangio, a thousand-mile
endurance race in Argentina, while many of the most special memories of this car in Argentina are personal.
Fangio’s nephew, Juan Manuel Fangio II says: “That car marked my childhood, it is a car that awakened
special feelings in me. That car identified my uncle after his retirement. It occupied a preferential place among
all the vehicles he had, not only because of the characteristics it had, but also because of the importance it
gave having been a gift from Mercedes-Benz.” |
In 1986, as El Maestro approached his twilight years, this 300 SL was put on permanent display by the driver
at the Juan Manuel Fangio Museum, located in his hometown of Balcarce, Argentina. The car stood pride of
place in the museum collection for many years, displayed alongside many of the other significant cars that
Fangio drove in his celebrated career. Widely recognised not only as one of the greatest drivers of all time,
but also one of the most charismatic and popular, the great man racked up five World Drivers’ Championship
titles in the 1950s—two of those achieved driving for Mercedes-Benz, scoring consecutive seasons’ victories
in 1954 and 1955 behind the wheel of the peerless W196. |
Precious remnants of the Balcarce-born driver’s celebrated life rarely surpass the magnitude of cars that the
man is known to have driven. Even without this 300 SL’s unique connection to the legendary driver, it would be
regarded as a great survivor with remarkable originality. It retains its original matching-numbers chassis,
engine, body, gearbox, differential, hood frame, and hardtop. Most importantly, its original Creme leather
interior with all the wear and tear created by the great man’s ownership—including where his knee would have
collided with the lower dash—is all present. In addition, the interior features a unique gear knob fitted by
Fangio, and a UPPI sticker, an organisation that Fangio was a founder member of as a predecessor to the
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. In addition to this 300 SL’s unique story and remarkable condition, the next
owner will be the second registered owner after the Fangio family. |
RM Sotheby’s Private Sales is honoured to present this incredible 300 SL Roadster for sale in an exclusive
and rare opportunity to own this highly significant part of motorsport history. Preserved in wonderfully original
condition and having never had any registered keepers outside the Fangio family, the car still carries the
same cream-coloured suitcase in the boot that Fangio would have used on one of his picture-perfect drives
across Argentina. This incredible 300 SL could easily be enjoyed just as Fangio did; with its open-top roof,
engaging manual gearbox, and straight-six 3.0-litre engine, or simply preserved as a perfect homage to El
Maestro. |