(RM Sotheby's)

From the "You Don't See This Opportunity Every Day" File. Editor-in-Chief's Note: This is a very big deal, and yes, that's Lewis Hamilton (above) driving a factory-owned Mercedes-Benz 196R. -PMD. One of the world's most historically significant racing cars, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, chassis number 00009/54, is to be offered in an exclusive standalone auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on February 1, 2025. The car forms part of an incredible 11-car collection from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum that RM Sotheby's will be offering via a three-auction series to support the Museum's collection and restoration efforts, and is being offered in close collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. Experts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach and the company's own archive are working on a manufacturer's expert report regarding the originality and authenticity of the vehicle. Few historic racing cars resonate as strongly as the famous Mercedes-Benz 'Silver Arrows' that dominated Grand Prix racing in the immediate pre- and post-war era, admired for their advanced technology and spectacular speed. The W 196 R was developed to meet the new 'up to 2.5 litre' regulations introduced in 1954, and it soon proved to be the car to beat in the hands of legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. The W 196 R features a straight-eight engine displacing 2,494 cubic centimeters and designed around a complex Hirth roller-bearing crankshaft. The fuel-injected powerplant was essentially two four-cylinder motors in unison, with two camshafts for each intake and exhaust. A jewel of an engine, it guaranteed reliable and smooth power delivery and was capable of producing 290HP after two seasons of development. Since the new 1954 formula specified so few limitations to coachwork, Mercedes-Benz concluded that a streamlined, aerodynamic body with enclosed wheels would optimize the car for high-speed courses, while an open-wheel grand prix body would be ideal for more twisting circuits. The new Mercedes-Benz race cars made their highly anticipated debut at the French Grand Prix at Reims, with a trio of W 196 R Streamliners making their very first appearance. Team drivers Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling, and Hans Herrmann would qualify 1st, 2nd, and 7th, respectively. Herrmann would go on to set the race's fastest lap, while Fangio and Kling achieved an impressive 1-2 finish. The race marked a resounding victory for Mercedes-Benz on its long-awaited return to racing. For the 1955 season, the W 196 R was further developed to remain as competitive as possible. The engine was improved in numerous aspects, including the addition of a new intake manifold. The decision was made to run the open-wheel grand prix bodies for almost all of the 1955 races, while improvements and updates resulted in an approximately 70-kilogram reduction in weight over its predecessors. The race team also recruited Stirling Moss to join their stable of drivers.

The Formula Libre Buenos Aires Grand Prix on 30 January 1955 would mark the first race for this car, chassis number 00009/54, fitted with an open-wheel monoposto body and piloted by Juan Manuel Fangio. Fangio earned pole position and eventually proved victorious in an unusual race conducted over two heats, capturing the win in number 00009/54 on its competition debut. By 1955, Italy's Monza circuit had been rebuilt with a new high-speed bank that has since become legendary in motorsport. For the Italian Grand Prix, it was decided that chassis number 00009/54 should be fitted with the streamliner body for the first time in the 1955 season, and the man charged with taking the wheel would be Stirling Moss. Fangio secured pole position in a similar car, with Moss 2nd on the grid at the start. Moss took the lead from Fangio in the ninth lap of the race, but would eventually finish 7th after encountering some mechanical difficulties. Significantly, the Englishman registered the fastest lap of the race in chassis number 00009/54, clocking a time of 2:46.900 at an average speed of 215.7 km/h. At the conclusion of the 1955 Formula One season, Fangio captured his second straight Drivers' Championship, with Moss finishing 2nd, sealing the W 196 R's legend in the process.

In two seasons, the W 196 model family—which included its sports car variant, the two-seat W 196 S 300 SLR—had won three championships in two different racing series. In 12 appearances at Formula One points events, the W 196 R had won a commanding nine times, and it won two additional non-points races, totaling 11 victories in 14 starts.

In 1964 chassis number 00009/54 was earmarked to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and was officially donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation on Sunday, 30 May 1965. For almost six decades, the W 196 R has been fastidiously stored and maintained by the IMS Museum, occasionally being invited to attend important exhibitions, such as the 1996 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, the 2003 Canadian International Auto Show, and the grand re-opening of the redesigned Petersen Automotive Museum in December 2015. Although the car has appeared at prestigious shows, including most recently as part of the Mercedes-Benz display at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the car has never been submitted for judging at concours events.

Chassis number 00009/54 represents only the second W 196 R ever offered for private ownership, and the first example offered with the magnificent Streamliner coachwork. It is presented in its proper Monza livery from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, and documented with a trove of period materials. 

For more information on RM Sotheby's collaboration with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the vehicles available for auction, click here.

(Mercedes-Benz)

Editor's Note: From the "Totally Off The Rails" Department, we have Jaguar, which announced this week a "reimagining" for the brand in a press release that sets new standards for unmitigated bullshit. "A new era begins today for Jaguar," according to the PR minions. "A completely transformed Jaguar brand recaptures an ethos to Copy Nothing that can trace its roots back to the words of its founder, Sir William Lyons. Jaguar’s transformation is defined by Exuberant Modernism, a creative philosophy that underpins all aspects of the new Jaguar brand world. It embraces bold designs, unexpected and original thinking, creating a brand character that will command attention through fearless creativity." But wait, there's more. "This is a reimagining that recaptures the essence of Jaguar, returning it to the values that once made it so loved, but making it relevant for a contemporary audience," says Jaguar Chief Creative Officer Professor Gerry McGovern, OBE. "We are creating Jaguar for the future, restoring its status as a brand that enriches the lives of our clients and the Jaguar community." The full public display of pretentiousness will take place on December 2 at Miami Art Week, at which time Jaguar will present “Copy Nothing,” the first global public installation for its new brand that will include "the physical manifestation of its Exuberant Modernism creative philosophy, in a Design Vision Concept," the press release promises. "Jaguar’s presence in Miami will establish its advocacy for artistic expression, in all its forms. Through a series of meticulously curated gallery spaces over two locations, Jaguar will share its platform with new and ground‑breaking emerging artists who share its ethos of Copy Nothing." Wow. Just Wow. You can watch the 30-second promo video here - but don't say you weren't warned. -WG  Editor-In-Chief's Note: The video is abhorrent in every respect. What an insult to a once-glorious brand. The so-called leaders of the Jaguar brand are hell-bent on leading it to The Pantheon of Embarrassing Irrelevance by blowing up any connection to its past, which is inexcusable and unforgivable. -PMD

(VW images)

Volkswagen of America Inc. has unveiled an all-new 2025 Tiguan. VW’s best-selling nameplate in the U.S., the 2025 Tiguan features bolder styling, more power, enhanced fuel efficiency, a refined, high-quality interior and introduces an advanced infotainment system to elevate the in-cabin experience. The Tiguan has been fully redesigned on the MQB evo platform with all-new sheet metal, a shorter rear overhang and a slight wheelbase increase. The new Tiguan features new wheels and colors across the range. Standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are replaced on volume trims with 19-inch wheels, while top trims get 20-inch wheels. Three new color options are available including Avocado Green Pearl, Sandstone Uni and Monterey Blue Pearl. Significant upgrades in interior quality include premium materials, such as genuine American walnut wood décor, a wrapped and double-stitched center console, upgraded Savona leather interiors, and cloth seats with an embossed design. The gear selector has now been moved onto the steering column. The Tiguan will be offered exclusively in two-row configuration for the North American region. Other available comfort and convenience features include a power Easy Open/Close tailgate; 12-way power front seats with quilted leather seating surfaces plus 10-point, full-back massage and ventilation; heated rear outboard seats and a heated steering wheel; and three-zone Climatronic. The 2025 Tiguan is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 four-cylinder engine which now makes 201HP (up from 184HP). In addition to the power upgrade, the new Tiguan weighs around 170 pounds less than the outgoing model, helping both fuel economy and acceleration. The weight savings are in large part due to the use of aluminum in the suspension and high-strength hot-formed steel in the body structure. We can tell you that the list of new stuff on the 2025 VW Tiguan goes on and on. Availability and pricing of the all-new 2025 Tiguan will be announced closer to launch, but don't expect it in VW showrooms before next summer at the earliest.

The AE Song of the Week.

There might have been things I missed
But don't be unkind
It don't mean I'm blind
Perhaps there's a thing or two
I think of lying in bed
I shouldn't have said
But there it is

You see, it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning

Maybe I might have changed
And not been so cruel
Not been such a fool
Whatever was done is done
I just can't recall
It doesn't matter at all

You see, it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning

"From The Beginning" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, from the album "Trilogy" (1972).* Written by Gregory Lake, Publisher: BMG Rights Management, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Listen to it here. 

*ELP's formula for successful albums seemed to be a concept covering several songs - a beautiful acoustic number by Greg Lake and one comedy song per album. For Trilogy, "From the Beginning" was Greg Lake's beautiful acoustic number that showed his acoustic guitar skills were right up there with his bass talents. A heartfelt song of devotion, Lake claims that the inspiration for the song has left his memory. Says Lake: "Very often lyrics simply come about simply because of the way one feels at a moment in time. There is no earth moving moment of divine inspiration or grand plan and I'm sure that was the case with this song. Although very young at the time I sometimes had moments of reflection and maybe also perhaps a feeling that I could be a better person, I think this was just one of those." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

 

 

Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG

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