Karl Ludvigsen visits memory lane with the Mercedes W196s

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Driving a great Grand Prix car on a world famous circuit would be an amazing experience for most enthusiasts. A factory-sanctioned blast in an only recently obsolete GP Mercedes at the Nurburgring would be the stuff of dreams... It was in this position that noted motoring historian and author Karl Ludvigsen found himself in back in 1961 after he convinced Mercedes Benz to wheel out one of their W196s during a press junket to Stuttgart.
   The car, chassis number 00006/54, is the same example that is being offered for sale at the upcoming Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 12 July and is set to break all records for a single seat GP car at auction. The tartan seat had previously supported Fangio, Herrmann and Kling in competition before being retired in 1955.
   Spurned on by the imminent sale of this fascinating machine, Karl Ludvigsen has recalled his thoughts on driving the W196, also taking time to ruminate on the car's design and construction in an article for The Automobile magazine (July edition), his brief outing on the track in this great machine still fresh in his memory after more than 50 years.    

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