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Indianapolis Museum sell-off
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum sold its most valuable cars, in partnership with auction house RM Sotheby’s, to raise more than US$100 million.
It may seem odd for an internationally recognised vehicle museum to sell of its most valuable exhibits, but the rationale behind the IMS’ sell-off is simple: ensuring the future of the museum, by focussing its content on vehicles that are directly associated with ‘The Brickyard’.
The part of the collection that went unde the hammer in February 2025 was globally significant, but not allied to Indianapolis. Eleven cars were selected for the sell-off and most were donated cars and acquisitions of rare and valuable vehicles, but which lacked IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 provenance.
According to the museum that opened its doors in 1956; closed in November 2023 and is scheduled to re-open in April 2025, needed to raise and invest US$89 million into renovation of the property.
The IMS Museum is an independent entity that sits on a property owned by Roger Penske, but was not included in the purchase of IMS by Penske Entertainment in 2020.
Based on the anticipated auction prices listed for the 11 cars, more than US$106 million was expected if big numbers were achieved for the first two and median prices were reached for the remainder.
By 8th February 2025, the IMS Museum achieved its primary goals, with the first car to go under the auction hammer – the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R ’Streamliner’ – selling for US$54 million in a special one-car auction today in Stuttgart; followed by the sale of the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM in Paris, for US$36 million.
The iconic W 196 R was the first Streamliner-bodied W 196 R ever offered for private ownership and is among the rarest and most beautiful competition cars ever made. It is one of four known examples with the factory-built, enclosed-fender Stromlinienwagen coachwork.
The car was driven by future five-time Drivers’ Champion Juan Manuel Fangio to victory at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix and by Sir Stirling Moss at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, achieving fastest lap.
This car had been donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum by Mercedes-Benz in 1965.
The Ferrari 250LM was overall winner of the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by noted racing drivers Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt on behalf of the North American Racing Team (NART). It is the only privateer-entered Ferrari to ever win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Other cars scheduled for auction at the end of February 2025 in Miami are: 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II (est US $8-$11 million); 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64 (est US$5-$7 million); 1908 Mercedes 17.3-litre ‘Brooklands’ Semmering Rennwagen (est US$7-$9million);1907 Itala 120hp Works Racing Car (est US$2-$3million); 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix (est US$1-$1.8 million); 1991 Benetton B191 Formula 1 (est US$600,000-1,000,000); 1965 Spirit of America Sonic I (est US$500,000-$1,000,000); 1911 Mercedes 22/40hp ‘Colonial’ Double Phaeton (est US$150,000-$250,000) and 1911 Laurin & Klement Type S2 Sportswagen (est US$100,000-$150,000).
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