The Brazilian F1 champ’s 190E 2.3-16 is being auctioned by RM Sotheby’s, but has a hefty $300K+ estimate
by Chris Chilton
11 minutes ago
- A 1985 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 with F1 pedigree is up for grabs.
- Ayrton Senna bought the 190 new and drove it for 25,000 miles.
- Senna fell for the sporty compact after competing in one in 1984.
The 190E 2.3-16 was Mercedes’ equivalent of the original BMW M3, though today they’re less than half the price, a nice usable one costing maybe $30,000. But you’ll need 10 times that amount to get your hands on this 190 thanks to its association with a man some people think remains the greatest F1 driver of all time.
The Smoke Silver sedan was bought new by Brazilian superstar Ayrton Senna in 1985 while he was living in the UK. He’d been switched on to the sporty compact’s skillset while competing in a now legendary Race of Champions event at the opening of the modern Nurburgring track in 1984 while still an up-and-coming driver.
Related: HWA’s Mercedes 190E Thinks It Can Win The World’s Greatest Race
Competing against a field of F1 big-shots past and present, all piloting 190E 2.3-16s, Senna came home in first place in awful weather, giving his rivals an early taste of the humiliation he would serve up in grand prix racing until his unfortunate death at Monza a decade and three world championships later.
A Personal Purchase
Senna wasn’t connected to Mercedes at the time but opted to buy a 190 with his own cash, collecting it at the Mercedes factory and driving it back to his home just a few miles south of London. He covered around 25,000 miles (40,000 km) in the right-hand drive Benz, before passing it on, something he did reluctantly, auctioneer RM Sotheby’s says, in preparation for a move to Monaco after signing for McLaren.
RM Sotheby’s
The Mercedes has now covered 154,302 miles (248,325 km) and lives in Australia, the current owner – who acquired it in 1996 – having shipped it over when he emigrated in 2004. Despite the added miles it still looks tidy, inside and out, has its original books and manuals, fire extinguisher, Becker Mexico stereo, tool kit, trickle charger, and unopened first aid kit.
It retains its original 2.3-liter, Cosworth-developed inline four, which was rated at 185 hp (188 PS) in Euro trim, and hooked up to a compulsory dogleg-shift five-speed manual transmission.
It also comes with the original registration document listing Senna as the owner, plus Nikki Lauda’s signature in the engine bay, a nice bonus detail added in 2016 at the Australian Grand Prix. Though maybe he should have signed the trunk lid, because that’s all second-placed Lauda saw of the Brazilian’s 190 in the 1984 Race of Champions shootout that sparked Senna’s love for the baby Benz.
Senna’s Legacy Doesn’t Come Cheap
For a car once thrashed by Senna on Surrey roads, this 190E now carries a price tag fit for a champion’s trophy cabinet, with RM Sotheby’s estimating £220,000–£250,000 (around $275,000–$310,000). Fancy owning a slice of F1 folklore? Check out the listing here.
RM Sotheby’s
#Mercedes #Cosworth #Ayrton #Sennas #Daily
