Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster from Juan Manuel Fangio

For many decades, Juan Manuel Fangio was the most successful Formula 1 racing driver of all time. In the 1950s, he scored five world championship titles with Ferrari, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz, in addition to numerous race victories. Only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton were able to surpass this record decades later. While the latter two drivers already had access to numerous aids, the bolides in the 50s were still purely mechanical. In addition, there were hardly any safety-relevant components apart from a helmet shell and aviator goggles. Even seat belts were virtually unknown back then. Today’s generation of drivers is correspondingly impressed when they get the opportunity to drive an old race car. Fangio won 24 times in 51 Formula 1 races. This victory rate has never been surpassed. Moreover, at that time it was still normal for F1 drivers to take part in other car races on their weekends off.

Fangio drove without driver’s license

Fangio raced sports cars at the Targa Florio and the Mille Miglia. While he was able to take overall victory twice in three starts at the 12 Hours of Sebring, he wasn’t lucky at Le Mans. He competed there four times and never finished. It was also a sports car race that led to an unusual fringe story. In February 1958, the sports car elite was in Cuba, where a race was to be held at the invitation of Fulgencio Batista. Movimento 26 de Julio (the 26th of July Movement) under Fidel Castro kidnapped Juan Manuel Fangio and held him prisoner until the following day. However, by his own account, they treated him very well. In the same year, Fangio announced his retirement. He continued to compete in vintage car races for a few more years. In his native Argentina, he finally passed his driving test in 1961 and thus received an official driver’s license. In fact, the five-time F1 world champion had previously driven without one.

300 SL as a gift from Mercedes-Benz

Juan Manuel Fangio remained associated with the Mercedes-Benz brand as an ambassador throughout his life. After all, he had won various races with the W196 and the 300 SLR. Even before his motorsport career, Fangio had made a name for himself with General Motors vehicles in Buenos Aires. In 1951, he took over Mercedes-Benz sales in the Argentine capital. In addition to several car dealerships, he managed a new Mercedes engine plant in Argentina in the 1960s and in 1974 became president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina S.A. On his retirement from the active racing scene, Juan Manuel Fangio received a new 300 SL Roadster as a gift from Mercedes-Benz. With its light blue paint and cream-colored leather interior, the configuration was reminiscent of the Argentine flag. The sports car arrived in time for his 47th birthday on June 24, 1958, at the Dorchester Hotel in London, where Fangio resided.

Shipped to Argentina in 1960

The car was fitted with a hardtop painted in the same color as the car ex works. However, Fangio often left this at home. Instead, he could often be seen at the wheel of the open-top 300 SL. He covered almost the entire current mileage of 72,951 kilometers in the sports car himself. In the process, he and the Mercedes were on the road a lot. After delivery in London, he set off on a tour of Europe with his girlfriend at the time, Andrea Berruet. The car remained there until March 1960, when Fangio had the 300 SL Roadster shipped to Argentina. To avoid import duties, he declared the car a “trophy”. In 1963, he sent one of his most skilled mechanics to Stuttgart to learn all the ins and outs of the 300 SL. Only he was allowed to perform the service work afterwards. Fangio and his sports car were seen all over South America.

Brand ambassador for YPF

In addition to his role as brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Juan Manuel Fangio also fulfilled a consulting contract for the Argentine oil company YPF. Accordingly, he also appeared at new gas station openings with the 300 SL Roadster. A special performance fuel was given the name “Fangio XXI”. When Argentine Silvana Suárez was crowned Miss World in 1978, Fangio chauffeured her through the streets of Buenos Aires in an open-top 300 SL. In addition, driver and car probably competed at least twice in the 1000 Milas, an endurance race through Argentina. In 1995, Juan Manuel Fangio passed away at the age of 84. His name is still closely associated with Mercedes-Benz today. Next to that, his compatriot Horacio Pagani created an automotive monument to him with the Pagani F (F for Fangio). Fangio had already parked his 300 SL as an exhibit in the Juan Manuel Fangio Museum in Balcarce in 1986.

First-hand sale

The vehicle stood there for many years together with other cars owned by the famous racing driver. Without ever having been restored, this 300 SL proudly displays its patina. Of course, the leather upholstery is torn after more than 63 years and also on the dashboard you can clearly see where Fangio’s knee often bumped. Unique to the car are the gearshift lever he installed and a sticker from the UPPI, a drivers’ union he helped found. After many years of disuse, the 300 SL Roadster is now for sale at RM Sotheby’s. It comes with the original hardtop and a case finished in the same cream leather. In fact, the next owner will get the chance to have his or her name added second to the vehicle’s papers. RM Sotheby’s hasn’t yet made any statements about the price called.

Images: RM Sotheby’s, Tim Scott, Fangio family