It’s not exactly visually stunning, is it? Clean lines and painted in the factory shade of Smoke Silver Metallic, it looks solid and classic. Yet, some would happily part with the quarter of a million British pounds (Rs. 3 crores approx.) asking price at R M Sotheby’s to own this unassuming beauty. The simple reason is that the first owner of this car was Ayrton Senna. Yep, the same Senna whose name is counted among the greatest of Formula One drivers of all time. The three-time World Champion for McLaren had bought this very car in 1985 to commemorate his victory in a similar car of the same colour the previous year at the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions. Having bought it, he had driven home from the Mercedes-Benz factory accompanied by fellow Formula One driver Mauricio Gugelmin.
The car was acquired by the current owner in 1996, two years after Senna’s fatal crash at Imola, and taken to Australia in 2004. There it was put on display at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix. Here, another legend of Formula One, Niki Lauda, did the honour of signing the engine compartment of the car.
This very special Mercedes-Benz W190 E 2.3-16 is being offered with the original paperwork documenting Senna’s ownership, including the factory purchase invoice and tax import slip, all in the late driver’s name. It even has the original toolkit, first aid kit, and owner’s manual for the new owner to get familiar with this historic car.
Senna had ordered the car with a full options kit that also included a Becker Mexico stereo system and a fire extinguisher. The legend owned the car with black leather interiors for a good two years, putting on 24,862 miles (40,000km), before ownership was passed to Robin Clark, who was a friend of his manager. The vehicle was subsequently sold to its current owner.
