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Mercedes-Benz RW196 streamliner - silver lining in the steep curve

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Created on February 6, 2025

Text:

Karl Ludvigsen (Übersetzung: Paul Krüger)

Photos:

Daimler-Benz AG

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RM Sotheby's

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Daimler-Benz AG

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RM Sotheby's

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Moss finishes second in Fangio's re-bodied Argentina-winning car - behind Fangio

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 Monza (1955) - Fangio's winning car from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at the Mercedes-Benz Museum

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - The unclad chassis with long wheelbase (235 cm ) shows the tubular frame and the fuel and oil tanks at the rear

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - improved engine with straight intake manifolds, high-mounted pitot tube and air scoop in the nose

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - chassis from an angle. Good to see: the internal brake drums and the steering column running diagonally through the engine compartment

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - National hero Juan Manuel Fangio training for the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Argentine Grand Prix: first use of the short chassis (wheelbase 215 cm), driven here by Juan Manuel Fangio

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Argentine Grand Prix: Fangio was one of two drivers who held out to the end in the scorching heat. You can see the strain on him

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Argentine Grand Prix: Fangio wins with an average speed of 124.7 km/h

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (1955) - Sectional drawing of the light-alloy eight-cylinder engine as used in the RW196 in Argentina

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - with long wheelbase (235 cm) and three-liter engine at the two-part 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - with additional mudguards for the rain race in Buenos Aires. Also easily recognizable: the central hump on the hood, which is required by the high single-point system

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - Stirling Moss at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix. The mudguards are mounted higher on his car than on the Fangios

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - Stirling Moss at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix. The mudguards are mounted higher on his car than on the Fangios

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - Italian Grand Prix 1955: three streamlined cars specially designed for Monza with 221 cm wheelbase and wheel-side brakes - a faulty design

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - Italian Grand Prix 1955: Karl Kling's car with new nose cone, one of the hasty and ultimately unsuccessful attempts to reduce lift on the front axle

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - Italian Grand Prix 1955: Karl Kling's car with new nose cone, one of the hasty and ultimately unsuccessful attempts to reduce lift on the front axle

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - slightly modified nose, but still did not achieve the desired result

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1955) - the simplest variant of the front attachment: simple wedge shape with one inlet for the cooling air

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1955 Italian Grand Prix: While waiting for the delivery of his racing car (RW196/10 00009/54), Stirling Moss has enough time to sign autographs

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Fangio (No. 18), Moss (16) and Kling (20) start from the front row

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Fangio (left), Moss (center) and Kling (right, hidden) start from the front row

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Moss in the lead ahead of Kling, Fangio and Taruffi, who had already fought his way up from 9th on the grid to 4th on the first lap

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - Italian Grand Prix 1955: End of the first lap, Fangio (18) overtakes Moss (16) at the exit of the bend

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Moss close behind Fangio - perhaps too close, because a stone thrown up will smash his windshield shortly afterwards

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Moss in the pits after a stone smashed his windshield

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Stirling Moss has to wait just one minute and 40 seconds for his mechanics to fit a new windshield

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - Italian Grand Prix 1955: the mechanics push Moss after the repairs have been completed. The two bulges in the hood for the air intake pipe and fuel injection are clearly visible here

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Fangio ahead of Moss in the banked curve. A courageous cameraman captures the action

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Mercedes-Benz RW196 (1954) - 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Fangio in the left streamliner; Moss half a lap back in the banked curve

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Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954) - Interesting fact: the nameplate designates the car as "RW196" and not, as is common today, as "W 196 R"

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Summary

The Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 racing cars underwent some improvements for the 1955 season. However, the first victory of the season went to a car that was still based on a chassis from the previous year. This article describes the career of the RW196 with chassis number 00009/54, which was consigned to the museum after a short racing career - and 60 years later to the auction house.

This article contains the following chapters

Heat battle in Argentina
Respectful German
More displacement, more power
One race, two runs
New banked curve in Monza
Nose surgery against lift
The last race of 00009/54

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Juan Manuel Fangio had a head start. He had already joined the Mercedes-Benz racing department in mid-1954, when his team-mate was a fast but inconsistent Karl Kling. Fangio's second automobile world championship was within reach. The situation changed in 1955 when Stirling Moss joined the team. Although he had not yet reached the peak of his abilities, Moss was already a driver of international renown. In a letter to Fangio in December 1954, the Daimler-Benz board announced the delicate news of the Moss signing: "Without a driver of Moss' caliber, we would cut too poor a figure in relation to our extensive commitment in the event of your departure. Furthermore, Mr. Moss is an avowed supporter of yours and we are sure that the relationship between you will be and remain good."

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