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A Once in a Lifetime Deal

RM Sotheby's x Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

Very rarely does a collection come to market that makes the world sit up and take notice, but that’s exactly what has happened over the past 24 hours. Though only 11 cars will be leaving the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, they rank among the most sought-after automobiles to ever be offered at public auction. Everyone at 搁惭?厂辞迟丑别产测’蝉 is immensely proud and privileged to have been chosen to find these machines new?homes.

From the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen that was raced by two of the all-time greats, Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, to the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM that didn’t only win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965 but went on to contest the French classic twice more—in addition to three outings at the 24 Hours of Daytona—these cars are nothing short of historic.

Stirling Moss leads race-winner Juan Manuel Fangio off the line at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at?Monza. Photo Courtesy of Mercedes?Benz?AG

Chassis 5893 and Luigi Chinetti’s N.A.R.T. team celebrating their first overall finish at the 1965 24 Hours of Le?Mans. Photo Courtesy of The Revs Institute

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II that was campaigned by Holman-Moody at Le Mans in 1966, a 1991 Benetton B191 Formula 1 from Michael Schumacher’s first season with the team, and a 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix—plus Brass Era gems from Mercedes, Itala, and Laurin &?Klement.

Holman-Moody’s #4 car (P/1032) driven by Mark Donohue and Paul Hawkins leads Maranello Concessionaires’ #16 Ferrari 365 P2 driven by Richard Attwood and David Piper at the 1966 24 Hours of Le?Mans. Photo Courtesy of The Cahier?Archive

Michael Schumacher, behind the wheel of B191-08, leads McLaren’s Gerhard Berger and Ferrari’s Ivan Capelli at the Formula?1 South African Grand Prix, 1?March?1992. Photo Courtesy of Motorsport?Images

Whether the one-off 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP?64, Craig?Breedlove’s 600 mph+ Spirit of America Sonic I Land Speed Record car, or the 1908 Mercedes 17.3-Liter 150 HP ‘Brookland’ Semmering Rennwagen, every lot in this incredible collection is an icon of performance—a unique opportunity to acquire some of the most desirable machines ever?made.

Zora Arkus-Duntov in his Chevrolet Corvette SS at Sebring 1957. Photo Courtesy of GM?Archives

Craig Breedlove walks away from his specially designed racing car, the Spirit of America Sonic I in which he established a new world's ground speed record of 600.601 miles per hour at Bonneville Salt Flats, November?1965. Photo Courtesy of Getty?Images

Such is the significance of these incredible cars that their original manufacturers have been heavily involved from the outset, with the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen having returned to Germany under the care of technicians at Mercedes-Benz Classic. Over a period of weeks, the team thoroughly inspected and researched the car ahead of the auction using their extensive expertise and archive. The sale, which promises to be a special moment, will take place in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Meanwhile, the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250 LM is en route to its spiritual home, where it will be pored over and thoroughly inspected by Ferrari Classiche engineers in Maranello prior to its sale in Paris.

The W 196 R arrives at Mercedes-Benz Classic in Stuttgart.

Rob Myers and Gord Duff with Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage and the 1908 Mercedes?Benz?Rennwagen.

Many of the cars in this collection have been in the care of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum for generations. Most were thought to be unobtainable, or even priceless. That they will be made available for the first time in decades is nothing short of historic. As car enthusiasts first and foremost, all of us at RM Sotheby’s have worked tirelessly to present these incredible machines with the care and dedication they deserve. We’re all tremendously excited for the three-part series of auctions that will ultimately find new custodians for what many consider to be works of art that will never be?repeated.

Gord Duff
President
搁惭?厂辞迟丑别产测’蝉

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