Few racing cars have had the sensational impact of the W196 introduced by Mercedes-Benz in the French Grand Prix on July 4, 1954. It was a feast of exotic features from its streamlined bodywork and direct fuel injection to its inboard brakes and valve-spring-free straight-eight engine. The W196 scored a one-two debut triumph 40 years to the day after a one-two-three victory by Mercedes in the same event. Its two seasons, 1954 and ’55, took iconic Argentinean driver Juan Manuel Fangio to his second and third world championships against strong competition from Ferrari and Maserati. Stirling Moss, Hermann Lang, Piero Taruffi and Karl Kling were other drivers of these post-war Silver Arrows in epic contests at Monaco, Monza, Zandvoort, Silverstone, the Nürburgring and other classic tracks. Rare and dramatic images from the world-famed Ludvigsen Library evoke the drama of the W196’s races under the direction of burly team manager Alfred Neubauer, while Karl Ludvigsen’s intimate introduction and insightful captions take the reader inside these amazing cars and their creators.
