A Formula One car that was “forgotten about” in a warehouse for almost three decades is expected to fetch more than £5 million (€5.8 million) at auction.
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 was driven by five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio.
The German-made car contains many features which were innovative at the time, including a fuel-injected engine, lightweight chassis and improved brakes.
Racing historian Doug Nye said: “The first time I saw this car I needed oxygen. It’s landmark technology and it was driven by a landmark driver.”
The car, unveiled by auction house Bonhams at its New Bond Street saleroom in London, will be sold in its current condition with noticeable blemishes and dirt.
“What’s so special about it is that it has this wonderful, untouched patina,” Nye said.
“Some people think it looks grotty – that’s not the point – the really rare cars today are the unrestored ones.
“Every car that’s restored has lost a part of its history because it’s been obliterated by repainting or by rebuilding. Nothing’s been obliterated on this, it’s just a beautiful survivor.”
He added that he did not mind if the car was bought by an individual or an institution, but he hoped it would go to “an owner who really understands and an owner who really cares”.
Bonhams chairman Robert Brooks said: “This is my fifth decade in the business and it was the most exciting discovery that I’ve made.
“We’ve had a couple of cars that have made over £5 million and our thought is that this will exceed that.”
Brooks would not comment on where the car was found, but said he hoped the highest bidder would take it back to Germany to enable it to be driven again.
“It’s been stored in a warehouse and largely forgotten about for nearly 30 years,” he said.
“Before it went into storage it had been recently run and run well.
“It’s complete, and essentially a trip back to the Mercedes-Benz works – which would be the perfect place to get the thing running again – would probably see it back on the track or on the road in demonstration. It’s all there to be put back together.”
The car will be sold by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
The Master: Juan Manuel Fangio
• Juan Manuel Fangio, born in Buenos Aires on June 24, 1911, was considered one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, thanks in part to his five World Championships that he won during the 1950s.
• He was son of an Italian immigrant, who moved to Argentina at the turn of the century.
• Fangio started racing in the 1930s and won frequently. After World War II, Fangio moved to Europe and began competing in several events and then moved on to the newly constructed Formula 1 World Championship, where his legend grew.
• The Master raced for four of the most famous European manufacturers in racing – Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz. Fangio retired abruptly after only two races in 1958, and moved back to his beloved Argentina.
• He frequently attended Formula 1 races and was a popular spokesman for Formula 1 for many years and was regarded as an all-round champion because of the way he conducted himself outside of racing.
• His death on July 17, 1995, was mourned throughout the racing world.