Amongst the greatest F1 racing drivers in history, one name continuously sits at the top as one of the GOATs – Juan Manuel Fangio, aka El Maestro. The five-time world champion made a name in F1 winning races for Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Mercedes-Benz. Now, one die-hard F1 fan with presumably bottomless pockets will have the opportunity to buy Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL through RM Sotheby.
In the 1950s, Fangio won back-to-back world championship titles in 1954 and 1955, driving for Mercedes-Benz. This achievement ultimately led to the German automaker surprising Fangio with a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The idea came about upon learning that Fangio was retiring from racing after placing fourth at the 1958 French Grand Prix. Mercedes-Benz had the 300SL roadster built in Metallic Light Blue with a crème white interior to represent the colors of Argentina’s national flag – Fangio’s home country. The car was delivered to Fangio at the Dorchester Hotel in London, UK. As far as retirement presents go, a new Mercedes roadster sounds way better than a gold watch.
To say Fangio liked his 300SL is an understatement. Upon receiving his four-wheel retirement gift, Juan Manuel Fangio took his 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster on a grand tour across Europe before shipping it home to Argentina. He would go on to put over 45,000 miles on the odometer before placing it in an official museum where it stayed in the condition currently shown. The car is remarkably original, meaning items like the steering wheel and gear shift knob bear the wear and tear created by El Maestro himself.
RM Sotheby is selling Juan Manuel Fangio 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL in a sealed bid auction held from February 28 to March 4 with no buyer’s premium for the lot, making the process more like a private sale. Moreover, RM Sotheby is keeping the final price a secret. So it will be up to the new owner whether they want the world to know how much they paid for Fangio’s 300SL.