Description
Mercedes-Benz W196, Last of the Silver Arrows, by Michael Riedner.
This book is regarded as the definitive history of the racing car developed by Mercedes-Benz to win the Formula 1 and World Sports Car Championships of the 1950s. Dubbed the ‘silver arrows’ racing in the national colour of Germany, the team was run with ruthless efficiency by the fearsome Alfred Neubauer who was able to attract the best racers of the day, including Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. The car was immediately successful, winning the F1 title for Fangio in 1954 and 1955 and giving Stirling Moss his first British Grand Prix win. But the chassis was also used for the mighty ‘streamliners’ and adapted as sports cars to run (and win) the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, the great road races of the day.
This superb book includes several technical ‘thow-outs’ displaying the full chassis and engine technical drawings, as well as profiles of the design, development, drivers and races. This copy is ex-libris Stirling Moss, once his personal copy, and carries the distinctive bookplate from his private library where this book was used as reference by Stirling for many years. Stirling has also signed the book and added a dedication, a quote he often used when asked about how the Mercedes team responded to his requests; “If I had asked for square wheel, I would have got them!”.
Very good condition, protected jacket, signs of use, overall very good. Signed with COA.
