Product description

Mercedes had taken time to make sure that its re-entery into Grand Prix racing was well-prepared. Indeed, the elegant streamlined contour of the new Mercedes racers was absolutely novel, marking a complete move away from the familiar traditional racing car design. The competitors were dumbfounded and speechless. But for the virtually 300,000 spectators at the race track, the appearance of the W196R was a true sensation. 

Mercedes fielded three cars of the type W196R, and they were piloted by Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling, and young Hans Herrmann respectively. The premiere race of GP France on July 4, 1954 played right into the hands of Mercedes, for the fast track of Reims with its long straights was conducive to outstanding performance of the Silver Arrows.

Fangio (starting number 18) and Kling (starting number 20) started off in the front row beside Ascari in a Maserati 250F. After Ascari retired from the race in lap 1, the two Ferraris of Gonzalez and Hawthorn came to chase the two leading W196R of Fangio and Kling from right behind. With starting number 22, Hans Herrmann had taken off from the 3rd row at position 5. After seven laps, however, he passed Hawthorn and, then, overtook Gonzales in the 11th lap. Now all the three W196R were leading the race until the 17th lap, when Hans Herrmann had to call quits because of an engine failure.

Towards the end of the race, a dramatic battle for championship took place between Fangio and Kling. It was by a razor-thin margin that Fangio won out; he was barely 1 meter ahead of Kling when passing the finish line.

So after an absence of 15 years, the Mercedes-Benz racing team staged a glorious comeback with a high-profile double victory.

Differences that Distinguish M-128 A/B/C (Limited Editions GP France 1954) from M-044

-       Air inlet in front of the wind shield that is fitted with five blade fins for cockpit ventilation

-       Rear-view mirror consoles that are shaped differently

-       Two rear openings that serve as air outlets, each with a stainless steel funnel and double crossbars

-       Shorter fuel inlet housed in the head rest

-       New-generation wheels with spokes and nipples

-       Tampon printed with starting numbers 18, 20, and 22 respectively

-       An engine hood that features a flattened surface and an absence of any air-intake opening. In the case of No. 22 car, there is a bulge in the right area of its engine hood.

-       Altered body shape to fit in with the modified bonnet

-       Modified air intake system, which involves changes in the engine, air-intake manifold, and air-inlet duct

-       Modified coolant expansion tank with separate coolant feed piping

-       Round opening in the bonnet for accessing the filler inlet of the oil tank (left vehicle side)

-       Addition of a filler inlet and tube connection to the oil tank

-       Recessed radiator grille that is immobile

-       Elimination of the mobile radiator grille and its adjustment lever in the cockpit

-       The engine service opening on the right vehicle side is covered

-       Different arrangement of the two exhaust pipes, each going through a lateral body opening on the right vehicle side all by itself. The upper opening is also mounted with a chromed crossbar.

-       Two lateral body openings on the left vehicle side, each with a chromed crossbar

-       Modified aeration-cooling outlets on the rear fenders

-       Red Mercedes Star printed above the radiator grille

-       Different fabric covers for the driver seats (#18 brown/red, #20 green, #22 blue) with different leather trimmings

-       Elimination of the headrest extension of the seat back

-       4-spoked steering wheel, with spokes painted to match the basic seat color

-       Additional oil temperature gauge installed below the Dashboard

Technical data of the original vehicle:

8-cylinder in-line-engine, in lengthwise 50° leant to the right side.
Fuel direct injection,controlled mechanical.