Ex-Fangio Mercedes-Benz W196 makes £20million at auction to smash all records

| 12 Jul 2013

The ex-Juan Manuel Fangio 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Grand Prix car made a monumental £19,601,500 at Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed sale just a few minutes ago.

The massive sale price fires the racer into the record books as the most valuable car ever sold at public auction.

The W196, which was gifted to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu by Mercedes, then went through a range of owners while making only very rare public appearances (read James Elliott's blog about its Monaco appearance here), has been causing a buzz among collectors since the consignment was announced.

The sale was peppered with astonishing results; click here for full report.