The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and Opinions8. Mercedes-Benz W196 “Type Monza”
It doesn’t get more old-school than this. Mercedes-Benz’s first foray into Grand Prix racing was a brief but successful affair. In the hands of the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, the Silver Arrows won the title in both years it competed in (1954 and 1955). Highly innovative, blisteringly fast and reliable for its time, the W196 is one of the most iconic classic F1 cars. It raced with two types of bodywork: the aerodynamically streamlined “Type Monza” for use at high speed tracks, and the more conventional, open-wheel chassis used at tracks with short straights and slow corners. While the open-wheel version of the car deserves credit for the increased down-force it provided, it was the “Type Monza” that was dropping the most jaws. Its beauty could rival that of the most luxurious road cars of that era, and it still, to this day, remains a perfect example of aerodynamic efficiency amounting to pleasant aesthetics.
