One of only two drivers to finish in the car they started, Fangio was hailed the victor at the Buenos Aires Autodromo at a speed of 77.509 mph. DaimlerAG
One of only two drivers to finish in the car they started, Fangio was hailed the victor at the Buenos Aires Autodromo at a speed of 77.509 mph.
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Every Silver Arrow Has Its Day

Starting with their introductory year of 1954, Mercedes-Benz Formula One cars had many improvements for 1955. Chassis 0009/55, first to be made in the new year, travelled from race track to museum and finally to the auction house.

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Fangio’s Advantage and Moss’s Arrival

Juan Manuel Fangio had a head start. He joined the Mercedes-Benz racing team in mid-1954, when his principal team rival was a fast but inconsistent Karl Kling. Fangio’s second World Championship was in the bag.

The chassis of Stirling’s car at Monza had carried Fangio to victory in Buenos Aires. Now it sought an exit from the Indianapolis Speedway Museum. Mercedes-Benz AG
The chassis of Stirling’s car at Monza had carried Fangio to victory in Buenos Aires. Now it sought an exit from the Indianapolis Speedway Museum.

The situation changed in 1955 when Stirling Moss joined the team. Though not yet at his peak, Moss was already a driver of international repute. In a December 1954 letter to the Argentinian, a Daimler-Benz executive broke the delicate news of the Moss hiring, saying that without a Moss-level driver ‘in the event of a retirement of yourself we would cut too poor a figure in relation to our substantial commitment. Moreover Mr. Moss is an avowed partisan of yourself and we certainly believe that the relationship between you will be, and remain, good.’

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Karl E. Ludvigsen is a journalist, author, and historian of the automotive industry and motorsports. Karl Ludvigsen is the author of the definitive history of Porsche. His Porsche history, Excellence was Expected, is considered to be a model of the researching and writing of the history of an auto company. Ludvigsen is an honorary member of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America and the Corvair Society of America. He is also a member of the council of the Historic Automobile Group.
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