A LEGENDARY Mercedes race car that competed in the Indy 500 and was owned by an F1 legend has gone up for sale.
The incredible motor is in pristine condition and is just one of the rarest cars in the world.
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Just four examples of the Mercedes Type 122 were custom-built by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft for the 1923 Indy 500.
Only three years later DMG would cease to exist after the Daimler-Benz merger, which marked the founding of the commercial Mercedes brand.
This particular example was the brainchild of Paul Daimler, the legendary designer and son of company founder Gottlieb.
Within two months of the model’s track debut, Paul would join rivals Horch (which would later be incorporated into Audi) making it his “last masterpiece” for the firm bearing his name.
In its 500-mile slog around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the brothers Max and Karl Sailer behind the wheel, the 122 claimed eighth place and the title of highest-placed rookie car.
Amazingly, it was initially designated as a reserve car but Max Sailer crashed out in qualifying and wrecked the one that was meant to take part in the race.
It is entirely possible that the opportunity… will never be repeated.
RM Sotheby’s
Beyond that, it enjoyed a lengthy motorsport career including regular appearances at Bridgehampton in New York and an entry into the 1936 edition of the Vanderbilt Cup, America’s first major racing championship.
Once it was retired from racing, it passed through the hands of several high-end collectors before finding its way into the stable of then-F1 executive Bernie Ecclestone.
Ecclestone imported the car to the UK in 1995 after purchasing a large chunk of fellow petrolhead Yoshiyuki Hayashi’s catalogue.
The following year, it would be sold to the renowned German car collector Dieter Aumann.
Now, Aumann’s full collection is being auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s following his death.
This includes the 122 as well as a bevvy of rare and unusual models from Mercedes, Aston Martin, Porsche and BMW.
The listing states: “The significance of these first supercharged Mercedes competition cars cannot be overstated—supercharging and competition both run strongly in the DNA of the manufacturer.
“The number of surviving supercharged Mercedes 2-Litre competition cars can be counted on one hand, so it is entirely possible that the opportunity to purchase one of the original cars, especially the lead Indianapolis racer, will never be repeated.
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- Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (1955) – £114.4 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) – £52.3 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO Tipo (1963) £41.4 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) – £30.7 million
- Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti (1957) – £28.8 million
- Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954) – £23.8 million
- Ferrari 290M (1956) – £22.6 million
- Ferrari 275 GTB/4 S NART Spider (1967) – £27.5 million
- Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale (1964) – £21.2 million
- Aston Martin DBR 1 (1956) – £17.7 million
“This wonderful Mercedes retains many numbered or period-correct components including its crankcase and gearbox, and a period body which is presented separately in bare metal.
“A very important competition car, this significant Mercedes has earned its place in some of the greatest collections and surely deserves to continue its life in another.”
The car will be sold at the auction house’s Munich sale, taking place on November 23.
But, as you might expect, all that heritage commands quite the price tag.
The 122 is listed for a whopping £4.1 million, and could well exceed that target.
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