VIN: the Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL Roadster chassis 8500083
History of chassis 042.8500083
Chassis 042.8500083 was one of 1858 W198 300 SL Roadsters built between 1957 and 1963. It was gifted by Mercedes-Benz to five-time Formula 1 World Champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, following his retirement from motor racing in July 1958.
The car was originally registered S EV 889 and configured in Metallic Light Blue with a matching hardtop and Cream interior. Fangio received the handsome machine after a ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The event took place during August 1958 when chassis ‘83’ was handed over by Mercedes-Benz racing manager, Alfred Neubauer.
Fangio had joined Mercedes mid-way through 1954. That season he drove the fabled W196 to victory in four of the remaining six F1 races. Having already won the Argentine and Belgian events earlier in the season, Fangio claimed his second Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Four more wins and a second place finish in 1955 saw the Argentine claim back-to-back titles. Fangio also helped Mercedes win the 1955 World Sportscar Championship driving the formidable W196S 300 SLR.
Unfortunately, Mercedes decided to quit motor racing at the end of the ‘55 season following the carnage at that year’s Le Mans 24 Hours when Pierre Levegh’s 300 SLR somersaulted into the crowd.
Fangio subsequently went on to race for Ferrari and Maserati for whom he won the 1956 and 1957 F1 Drivers’ Championships.
The blue 300 SL Roadster became one of Fangio’s most treasured cars. After the handover, he immediately embarked on a tour of Europe with his girlfriend, Andrea Berruet, and took up his new role as a Mercedes-Benz ambassador.
Chassis ‘83’ was kept in Europe until early 1960, at which point it was exported to Argentina.
In South America, Fangio continued his collaboration with Mercedes as the firm looked to expand its dealer network in the region.
The 300 SL was registered 405893 in March 1960. Over the next two decades, Fangio used the car for his promotional duties with Mercedes and YPF fuels.
During this time, Fangio accumulated nearly 73,000km and chassis ‘83’ was maintained exclusively by one mechanic who had been sent to Mercedes to learn everything necessary about how to look after the car.
Fangio went onto become President of Mercedes-Benz South America in 1974 and was made honorary President for Life in 1987.
In 1986, the 300 SL was put on permanent display at the Juan Manuel Fangio Museum in the driver’s home town of San Jose de Balcarce in the Buenos Aires Province.
In 2022, the highly original car was put up for sale by RM Sotheby’s.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: RM Sotheby’s - https://rmsothebys.com/ & Tim Scott - https://www.fluidimages.co.uk/
