SKU: 97333880612

Mercedes-Benz W196 Streamliner - 1954 French Grand Prix Winner

Sale price$9897.75 Regular price$10997.50
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 10 - Jul 15

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Mercedes-Benz W196 Streamliner - 1954 French Grand Prix WinnerLimited to just 196 pieces As driven by Juan Manuel Fangio at the 1954 French Grand Prix Each model hand built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen 1: 8 scale model, over 50 cms 19 inches long Made using the finest quality materials Over 4500 hours to develop the model Over 400 hours to build each model Thousands of precisely engineered parts: castings, photo etchings and CNC machined metal components Built using original drawings and archive

  • Limited to just 196 pieces
  • As driven by Juan Manuel Fangio at the 1954 French Grand Prix
  • Each model hand-built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen
  • 1:8 scale model, over 50 cms/19 inches long
  • Made using the finest quality materials
  • Over 4500 hours to develop the model
  • Over 400 hours to build each model
  • Thousands of precisely engineered parts: castings, photo-etchings and CNC machined metal components
  • Built using original drawings and archive photographs supplied by Mercedes-Benz
  • One of the most dominant cars to have ever raced at the pinnacle of motorsport, the Mercedes-Benz W196 drove its competitors to despair during the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 seasons in which it was entered, capturing the only two World Championships in which it competed.

    Mercedes had been absent in Grand Prix racing for twenty years, but a combination of new Formula 1 regulations and a thriving economic turnaround in Germany allowed the Silver Arrows to compete once again. Expectations were high; in the past the Mercedes-Benz racing cars were not only the fastest, but also the most technologically advanced; a showcase of the company's advanced technical capabilities. The W196 did not disappoint. Considering the relatively small displacement of 2.5 litres, the team of engineers, headed by Fritz Nallinger and Rudolf Uhlenhautand, chose a surprising and different format for the long straight eight engine, though this risk soon yielded astonishing results.

    The W196 was the first Formula 1 car to use desmodromic valves to allow the significantly smaller engine to rev higher, as well as the first to use a Bosch-developed fuel injection system, which had already been successfully used on the 300SL racing cars. Adapted from the DB 601 high-performance V12 used on the Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter, the novel fuel injection system allowed for 257 brake horsepower at the time of its debut, rising to 290 bhp at an impressive 8500 rpm after a year of on-track development. Also carried over from the 300SL was the space-frame chassis, which featured an entirely new approach to chassis building, combining light weight with exceptional rigidity. Sparing no expense, the engineers developed a variety of track specific versions of the W196 with three wheelbases and two interchangeable body styles: the ‘Type Monza’ low-drag streamliner body, designed for high-speed circuits, and the more open-wheel configuration, for the more technical, twisty circuits.

    Still busy developing the cars, Mercedes missed the first three races of the 1954 season; the belated debut came at the French Grand Prix in Reims, where the streamlined body was immediately right at home. Racing manager Alfred Neubauer hired the – initially reluctant – superstar Juan Manuel Fangio to partner the German duo of Hans Herrmann and Karl Kling, and it was instantly obvious that the German marque’s approach was too much for the Italian and British specialist manufacturers to match. Fangio helped Mercedes to continue a debut-winning tradition by piloting the W196 to a debut victory, a few metres ahead of Kling, whilst Herrmann posted the fastest lap. The open-wheel variant of the W196 debuted two races later in the team’s home Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, after a tougher race at Silverstone. Fangio again was victorious, and would go on to dominate three races in a row, winning at the Swiss and Italian Grands Prix as well. In a relatively poor showing in the final race in Spain, the Argentinian claimed a podium as he finished the season as the World Champion. While Fangio started the season at Alfa Romeo, winning two races with the Italians, his points tally with the W196 alone would have been enough to win him the World Championship title.

    For 1955, Fangio was joined by a new team-mate, the up-and-coming Stirling Moss, creating a virtually invincible pairing. The Argentine driver started the season on a high by winning his home Grand Prix in soaring temperatures that exhausted most of his opponents. The W196’s lowest moment followed, as it failed to score a single point at Monaco: all three of the entered cars were hampered by reliability problems. Despite the horrifying 1955 Le Mans disaster shortening the Formula 1 season, the W196 completely dominated the remaining four races, finishing first and second in Belgium (Fangio-Moss), the Netherlands (Fangio-Moss) and Italy (Fangio-Taruffi), whilst at the penultimate race in Great Britain, the Mercedes team took a remarkable 1-2-3-4, Moss claiming his first Grand Prix victory ahead of Fangio, Kling and Piero Taruffi. Needless to say, Fangio was crowned champion again with Moss a distant second.

    Shaken by the Le Mans accident, Mercedes-Benz left Grand Prix racing at the end of the season for the third time in their history, retiring their almost invincible car after racing for just one year and two months. Overall, the versatile W196's track record was impressive indeed: nine victories, eight pole positions and nine fastest laps in the twelve Grand Prix races in which it was entered, and, of course, Fangio's world titles in 1954 and 1955. It is widely agreed that the only reason the W196 did not win more titles is that the Manufacturers’ Championship was not introduced until 1958.

    This fine 1:8 scale model is of the Mercedes-Benz W196 Streamliner as raced to victory by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio during a gruelling French Grand Prix at Reims on the 4th of July 1954. The race was the W196’s first competitive foray and Mercedes’ first Grand Prix race for twenty years. It was a dominant return as Fangio set the pace averaging 124 mph (200 km/h) during his practice lap. The Argentine and his teammate Karl Kling led the race from the start, driving almost side by side until the end, with their rivals unable to keep pace. With one lap to go, Mercedes finally ordered the duelling drivers to stop their fight to ensure both cars reached the end, Fangio eventually edging out Kling by just 0.1 seconds. It was a historical win for many reasons: it was Mercedes’ and tyre supplier Continental’s first official Formula 1 victory, and the first official race win to be achieved by a non-Italian constructor. Having also emerged victorious at the 1954 and 1955 Italian Grands Prix, the W196 Streamliner remains the only closed wheel car to win a race in Formula 1 history.

    This scale model has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops with the co-operation and assistance of Mercedes-Benz regarding original finishes, materials, archive imagery and drawings. The use of supremely accurate digital scanning of the original car has allowed us to perfectly recreate every detail at scale. Furthermore, it has undergone detailed scrutiny by both Mercedes-Benz’s engineering and design teams to ensure complete accuracy of representation.

    The Mercedes-Benz W196 Streamliner is limited to just 196 pieces.

     

    Shipping Notes
    • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
    • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
    • Delivery to the USA:
    1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
    • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
    Exchange/Return Notes
    • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
    • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
    • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
    • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
    SKU: 97333880612

    Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

    Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

    4.1 ★★★★★
    Based on 150 reviews
    Sort
    Highest Rating
    Newest First
    Oldest First
    Product Reviews
    A
    Verified Purchase
    AJ1983
    Natrona Heights, US
    ★★★★★ 4
    Great buy
    Size: 2 Count (Pack of 1), Style: Pack of 2
    Easy to track balls. My dog loves them and I like that they whistle when you throw them cause some times my dog loses track of it in the air. This helps because they can hear where it's going. Will buy again.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2026
    S
    Verified Purchase
    Staci
    Charlottesville, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    My Dog's Favorite Balls
    Size: 2 Count (Pack of 1), Style: Pack of 2
    My dogs love these balls and won't play with any others. My lab has to carry the orange ball and track and retrieve the blue one. We have a system!
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026
    J
    Verified Purchase
    Jay
    Lake Worth, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Our perfect chew toy for a relentless chewer!
    Size: 2 Count (Pack of 1), Style: Pack of 2
    We have looked high and low for a ball that our Australian Shepherd couldn't destroy. Read on to find out why we are sticking with this one. We've used other Chuckit! products in the past to mixed degrees of success. We absolutely love the ring fetch toy, though the dog can destroy those rings in a couple days. We tried other "nearly indestructible" balls only to have to throw them away within a couple days because our dog had destroyed them and left small pieces around the house for the baby to find. We have been COMPLETELY satisfied by these balls. They fit with the Chuckit! stick, which is a great bonus, but the most important thing is the dog hasn't been able to get pieces torn out of them. His orange one is his "indoor toy" and he's been going to town on it for weeks without any indication of wear. We periodically inspect it and are always floored to see that it's generally in the same condition as when we gave it to him. The orange color did fade a little when he left it outside for a few days in the sun, but considering how well it works otherwise, this didn't concern us at all. The "whistling" aspect of this ball is... well, an interesting gimmick but I wouldn't buy it if that's what you're interested in. Sometimes it makes noise in flight, other times it doesn't. We don't care. He chews it until he's tired of it (which is usually hours) and it squeaks and squorks on his teeth which keeps him happy as a clam. We honestly didn't think we'd find a ball that could keep up with his chewing, but this one has been phenomenal. We cannot recommend it enough!
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2021
    R
    Verified Purchase
    RR
    Belleville, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    So Far So Good
    I adopted a young adult dog less than 2 weeks ago. She had spent over 12 hours a day in a crate and has excessive energy and anxiety built up. She is a strong chewer. So far, out of 6 toys, this is the only one still in one piece. It appears sturdy and extra bouncy. So much better than regular tennis balls.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
    L
    Verified Purchase
    Lisa B
    Alexandria, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    My dogs favorite!
    My dogs love these! They will play all day if you'd let them, these balls are their favorites. I use the chuck-it handle and they get tons of exercise in the big yard!
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026

    recommand products