Juan Manuel Fangio's Mercedes sold for £20 million

Argentinian racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio driving the Mercedes W196 during the Swiss Grand Prix in 1954

Five-time F1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio’s Mercedes-Benz W196, which he drove to clinch his second title in 1954, was sold for a whopping £19.6 million at an auction in England.

According to the chairman of Bonhams auctioneers, Robert Brooks, the Argentine’s Mercedes was the most important historic Grand Prix car ever offered for sale.

The auction house claimed that the car is working perfectly and in a ‘remarkably unspoiled’ condition with all its part complete.

A private buyer bought the car over the telephone at a classic cars auction.