Models » Formula 1 » 1950 - 1959
1954-55 Mercedes-Benz W196R: Sterling Moss tribute, Monza livery (1:18)
Prior to 1954 The Formula 1 Championship had been dominated by two marques, Alpha Romeo and Ferrari. A change in the rules that limited supercharged engines to just 750 cc, in order to favor naturally aspirated engines, created just the opportunity that Mercedes-Benz was looking for to return to racing twenty years after the first Mercedes Benz Grand Prix car, the all conquering W25.
Introduced at the 1954 French Grand Prix at Reims-Gueux the W196 "Typ Monza" or streamliner as it came to be known, was unlike any Formula 1 car seen ever before and since. And yet as smooth an elegant as the full-bodied car from the outside, inside the car was a masterpiece of innovation. The straight-8 cylinder engine was tilted 37-degrees resulting in smaller frontal area. There were no valve springs closing the valves as the W196 was equipped with a desmodromic valve operating system, with one camshaft opening the valves and a second camshaft closing them again and all told, four camshafts operating 16-valve. Bosch direct fuel injection developed for the 300 SL was used, a similar technology as found in the four time 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Audi R8, 45 years after it was first introduced. And to decrease the unsprung weight the drum brakes were moved inboard.
And the innovations didn’t just stop at the mechanical, because the fuel used by the W196 was a real witch’s brew of highly toxic and unstable chemicals. The fuel, which was provided by Esso and designated “RD1” contained 45% benzole, 25% methanol, 25% high octane petrol, 3% acetone and 2% nitrobenzene.
On July 4, 1954 Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling powered their way to a 1-2 victory in the W196R’s debut race at Reims. Hans Herrmann, driving a third W196R set the fastest lap of the race with a lap 2' 32.9. Fangio would go on to finish the season as world champion and later drove an improved version of the streamlined car to victory in the 1955 Italian Grand Prix and went on to retain his world title.
This truly stunning 1:18 scale W196R replica by CMC is true jaw-dropping work of art. Specially built as a tribute to Sterling Moss, this is a model for the serious collector.
Prior to 1954 The Formula 1 Championship had been dominated by two marques, Alpha Romeo and Ferrari. A change in the rules that limited supercharged engines to just 750 cc, in order to favor naturally aspirated engines, created just the opportunity that Mercedes-Benz was looking for to return to racing twenty years after the first Mercedes Benz Grand Prix car, the all conquering W25.
Introduced at the 1954 French Grand Prix at Reims-Gueux the W196 "Typ Monza" or streamliner as it came to be known, was unlike any Formula 1 car seen ever before and since. And yet as smooth an elegant as the full-bodied car from the outside, inside the car was a masterpiece of innovation. The straight-8 cylinder engine was tilted 37-degrees resulting in smaller frontal area. There were no valve springs closing the valves as the W196 was equipped with a desmodromic valve operating system, with one camshaft opening the valves and a second camshaft closing them again and all told, four camshafts operating 16-valve. Bosch direct fuel injection developed for the 300 SL was used, a similar technology as found in the four time 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Audi R8, 45 years after it was first introduced. And to decrease the unsprung weight the drum brakes were moved inboard.
And the innovations didn’t just stop at the mechanical, because the fuel used by the W196 was a real witch’s brew of highly toxic and unstable chemicals. The fuel, which was provided by Esso and designated “RD1” contained 45% benzole, 25% methanol, 25% high octane petrol, 3% acetone and 2% nitrobenzene.
On July 4, 1954 Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling powered their way to a 1-2 victory in the W196R’s debut race at Reims. Hans Herrmann, driving a third W196R set the fastest lap of the race with a lap 2' 32.9. Fangio would go on to finish the season as world champion and later drove an improved version of the streamlined car to victory in the 1955 Italian Grand Prix and went on to retain his world title.
This truly stunning 1:18 scale W196R replica by CMC is true jaw-dropping work of art. Specially built as a tribute to Sterling Moss, this is a model for the serious collector.
 The Mercedes-Benz W196R streamliner, arguably the most beautiful Grand Prix car ever to compete for the world championship. |
 The incredible levels of detail in this 1:18 scale CMC model are beyond words! |
 Driving the W196, Juan Fangio won his second and third world drivers championships in 1954 and 1955. |
 The cockpit is so meticulously detailed that it even includes real mirrors! |
 The W196R by CMC is a replica that any motorsports enthusiast will thoroughly enjoy for many years to come. |
