SKU: 85021777414

Mercedes-Benz W196 Monoposto - 1955 British Grand Prix

Sale price$9897.75 Regular price$10997.50
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 13 - Jul 18

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Mercedes-Benz W196 Monoposto - 1955 British Grand PrixLimited to just 196 pieces Both Moss and Fangio versions available as raced at the 1955 British Grand Prix Each model hand built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen 1: 8 scale model, over 54 cms 21 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

  • Limited to just 196 pieces
  • Both Moss and Fangio versions available as raced at the 1955 British Grand Prix
  • Each model hand-built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen
  • 1:8 scale model, over 54 cms/21 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 Monoposto as raced during the British Grand Prix at Aintree on the 16th of July 1955. Sir Stirling Moss led home the W196’s finest hour, a dominating 1-2-3-4 finish, ahead of his Argentine companion, Juan Manuel Fangio. Many, including Moss himself, believed that Fangio allowed his British protégé to claim his debut win in front of his home crowd. This was, however, consistently denied by the newly crowned triple World Champion, who claimed that Moss "was simply faster that day." Due to the curtailing of the Formula 1 season in the wake of the Le Mans disaster, Fangio's points advantage over Moss after the race was sufficient to secure his third World Drivers' Championship.

    This 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 Monoposto is limited to just 199 pieces.

    --------------------------------------------------------------

    Elevate your 1:8 scale collection with one of our elegant, harmonious and handcrafted display cabinets, stands or plinths.

    View Display Cabinets for this model >

    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: 85021777414

    Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

    Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

    4.1 ★★★★★
    Based on 1165 reviews
    Sort
    Highest Rating
    Newest First
    Oldest First
    Product Reviews
    K
    Kelli Lynn
    New York, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Great Boys Suit Vest
    Color: Black, Size: 12, Color: Black, Size: 12
    I recently had a chance to pick up this boy's suit vest for my upcoming wedding, and it is absolutely perfect. It fits my son so well, running very true to size. The material is so silky smooth and soft, he absolutely loves it. He's autistic and has a thing about different fabrics and this does not irritate or bother him at all. It is going to be perfect over his long sleeve button down shirt. The best looks amazing on him, and the black color is definitely a very dark true black. It is such a great value for the money, you will not be disappointed! I highly recommend picking this up if you need one for your boy or if you have a family member who needs one for an upcoming event.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
    A
    Arty
    Pawtucket, US
    ★★★★★ 4
    Boys vest
    Color: Black, Size: 8
    The vest looks nice. It seems well made and looks high quality. The fabric is nice. The buttons seem very sturdy. The vest is lightweight and shouldn’t be too sweaty. It’s a nice versatile piece. Can be dressed up or down. The fit is a smidge awkward on my boys, but they still like it.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2026
    Q
    QueenofAwkward
    West Palm Beach, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Looks very nice and sizing is right
    Color: Navy Blue, Size: 14, Color: Navy Blue, Size: 14
    I ordered this for my 13-year-old who currently wears a size 12-14. He's closer to the 12, but has enough clothes in that size, so I ordered the 14 in navy blue. He chose the color, although it took him a while to decide. My kids so far have preferred not to go to school dances or dressier school functions, but I try to keep an outfit on hand in case they need it, and he does have to dress up a little for school band performances. He doesn't really have any kind of clothing preferences (yet), and is just as likely to look dressed up as he is to wear something completely wrinkled (but clean). This vest fits as expected. It is a bit large on him to the same degree that the other size 14 clothes he has are. He is pretty skinny, so while I think it would fit someone who is more average sized, I'm not sure how well it will do on huskier sizes. It has a nice buckle on the back as most men's vests like these have, so it can be adjusted in that sense. The navy color is a bit of a brighter shade than your average navy, but not outside of the normal range for navy. I like it. It’s hard to get the exact color in pictures. The fabric and construction both seem to be good quality. The fabric feels average compared to my husband's dress vests, better than the lower quality/cheaper ones and not quite as nice as the ones he spent more on. This boy's dress vest is currently being sold for approximately $20, which I think is great for a nice dress vest like this.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2026
    C
    C. Snyder
    San Leandro, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    "Navy Vest & Pocket Square Charm; Formal Polish for Perfect Pairing
    Color: Navy Blue, Size: 8, Color: Navy Blue, Size: 8
    This very charming boys navy blue vest pairs perfectly with the accompanied pocket square, adding formal charm to dockers or navy khakis. My boys look dapper in matching sets. A timeless style that elevates any outfit. Made with quality fabric that appears to resist wrinkles, with the pocket square folding neatly for that polished touch. Comfortable and event ready.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2026
    S
    sunflower
    Carnegie, US
    ★★★★★ 5
    Adorable boys vest! Dress up or down!
    Color: Light Gray, Size: 5, Color: Light Gray, Size: 5
    Super cute vest! Made of quality materials. The buttons on the front all work very well. My four year old can easily button and unbutton them himself. All 3 pockets in the front are functional cute little pockets. There are vertical line stitchings making this vest look just like dad's. The back is easily adjustable. I will stay I was nervous it was going to be too big for my almost 4 year old - I ordered the smallest size available, size 5 and it actually fits him perfectly. In fact, I could even have gotten him the size 6 and it would have fit so I recommend to size up. It's a breathable vest. The gray color goes with lots of other colors. It's an adorable vest. You can dress it up with a nice suit or dress down. It's adorable with a t shirt and jeans. The inside back is a nice silky material. This vest is very well made - its thick but breathable and a great value for the dollar. I highly recommend.
    WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2026

    recommand products