VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT | 1954 MERCEDES-BENZ W 196 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX CAR

1954 MERCEDES-BENZ W 196 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX CAR

For its post-war return to Grand Prix racing, Mercedes-Benz introduced two versions of the W 196, an open-wheel monoposto and a streamlined variant. The streamlined W 196, unveiled at the French Grand Prix in Reims, featured a stunning wind-tunnel-designed body, a tubular space frame, and a fuel-injected straight-eight-cylinder engine with desmodromic, springless valves. Regarded as the most advanced race cars of the day, two W 196s finished in first and second places in their first race and earned a total of nine wins out of the 12 races in which they were entered between 1954 and 1955. Driver Juan Manuel Fangio finished as World Champion in both seasons, with teammate Stirling Moss as runner-up in 1955. 

COURTESY OF THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY MUSEUM