Fangio and the 6.9

More threads by Oversize

OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Interesting article from what i could read.
Do you know who the author was?
Yes the author is Pedr Davis & the book is called “Rear Vision”. I’ve just bought a second hand copy so I’ll upload pix of the whole article tomorrow.

In addition, I managed to track down the retired police member who actually got to ride with Fangio! Sounds like he might just have some more info including pix!!

So back to the significance of this new info?? There was only ever ONE car. Story goes that Mercedes only had one available at the time & there were insurance concerns due to the extremely high value of the vehicles. Hence only Fangio was permitted to drive it. Many of the journos weren’t drivers either & as we’ve seen at the start of all this, some weren’t even motoring journos. They were also apparently worried about adding kms to additional cars which would reduce their value.

In addition, it would seem Sir Stirling Moss did not attend on this occasion (despite the pic at the same location), since they’d likely need a second car & he wasn’t mentioned in the any of the articles I’ve read. I now doubt any other race car drivers attended either.

And finally for now, the ex Jeff Kennett (green) 6.9 was NOT involved so someone told some tall stories along the way without any actual proof......
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Here’s a better copy of the article:
AD44B176-0165-429C-B3D8-056E19759CE1.jpeg0F0CAD46-76D5-4DDA-9104-8984414572AB.jpeg0C390C52-F10C-4EF8-AECD-AD1E1676F294.jpegCD6A9887-755B-49E3-8A47-A086F481A643.jpegBC003BD2-3958-4D5A-AC60-6F5B1A67036E.jpeg5C9996DF-90DB-4BDE-8E3A-49CF6AD72F78.jpeg
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Many more developments here and I'm hoping to meet up with the copper mentioned in the article next week..... It's amazing what you can find if you keep digging and don't give up.
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
The guy with the beard in the pix above is a well known journalist is he not??? I do recognize him from Wheels or Motor.... Anyone able to identify him?
 

Michel

The Prince of Arabia
Moderator
Messages
10,016
Points
775
Location
Sydney, Australia
That’s Will Hagon
The guy with the beard in the pix above is a well known journalist is he not??? I do recognize him from Wheels or Motor.... Anyone able to identify him?
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
After catching up with someone involved yesterday there’s more big news coming in the next week...
 

Styria

The Godfather
Moderator
Messages
9,364
Points
492
Location
Sydney
Well Mark, enough praise has been expressed already by others on TK, and deservedly so. Me ? Would you know, I have never seen this thread previously ! Maybe advanced wisdom has gotten the better of me, but allow me to make some comment now. Your contributions are simply exemplary. I pride myself on being well and truly up to the task of holding my own when it comes to most Classic Car matters, but in this case Mark, your contributions and research are just about second to none. Thanks heaps. Looking forward to more of your research. Regards Styria
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Thanks for your kind words Styria & Patrick. The best is yet to come! Hopefully very soon I can reveal all the details.

Some teaser pix from the official MBA 6.9 media pack from 1978! Yes I’ve managed to borrow one from a safe for just a few days, including very rare extra Polaroids...

A1B9789F-9E49-401E-A323-46A6067975F1.jpeg959E6A85-E414-4863-A6DD-3C39BC865096.jpeg9A9A27BA-79E8-4837-88FE-0CB996C49692.jpeg
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Yes that was an expensive & risky exercise trucking the racecar all the way out to Riddells Creek on Monday 11th September 1978 (the day after the demo race at Sandown).

744E81F8-9A8D-4F57-AE5E-6F54D31E626F.jpeg736F8227-D904-4D5B-9A0C-74649518874F.jpeg4006BFD2-0832-4401-B039-1388CD2D3C53.jpeg6AC09FC5-4C50-42A7-83A9-5F7FB1E080C9.jpeg
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
There’s some VERY interesting facts about the W196 race car if you care to look it up. 2.5L I8 built for the 1954 & 1955 F1 seasons just before the horrific crash that saw MB withdraw from racing for 30 years.

The only one sold privately 10 years ago went for $29M....
 
OP
Oversize

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Actually the total cost was £20.9M which is $36.4M AUD and that was 10 years ago!!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
260ebenz Fangio's 1954 F1 Mercedes for auction Articles 1
Oversize Fangio & the 6.9 Road Tests 13

Similar threads

Top