This non-running scale model of the F1 W10 that Lewis Hamilton drove to an F1 championship sold for $185,000.
Are you a fan of the Mercedes-AMG F1 team? Are you a fan of scale models, but Lego sets are not realistic enough for you? Do you like to spend money like it is on fire? Well, then you might be the person who just spent $185,000 (before auction fees) on this 1:1 scale model Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 race car. The car recently sold on Bring a Trailer for far more money than even the seller could have expected. After a bid of $60,500, the reserve had been met. But the final price ended up being over triple that amount. Is this a good deal or is the seller laughing all the way to the bank?
We have to say that in the looks and details department, this Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 model knocks it out of the park. It looks like a legit F1 car. It would be easy to picture Lewis Hamilton strapped inside ready to bang out one of his famous hammer time laps. But with no engine and fiberglass wheels and tires, this car isn’t going anywhere under its own power. It was constructed by hand in Germany utilizing a mix of carbon fiber and fiberglass. And now it is on its way to a new owner.
Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 Model Details
The attention to detail on this model is incredible. The team livery is spot on including all the major sponsors. The Pirelli script on the tires, the rain light, the halo, and the mirrors look great. Inside the cockpit, there is a steering wheel that not only looks like it came out of an F1 car but also functions. While this car doesn’t have an engine, it will roll, and you can control it with the steering wheel. Although the seller suggests that you don’t roll it around much. This is a model that you park and display. The model tips the scales at about 1,500 pounds. That is only about 140 pounds less than a real Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ race car.
The Real Car
And while we are on the subject of the real car, it should be noted that the car designed by John Owen was nearly unbeatable in the 2019 F1 season. Out of 21 races that year, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ won 15 of them. 11 of those wins came with Hamilton behind the wheel. Valtteri Bottas claimed the other 4 wins. So, if you wanted to model an F1 car, this was a good car to choose. But what about the price?
$185,000
The saying goes that something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That being said, we are stunned by the result of this auction. $185,000 could buy you a nice AMG GT 63 Coupe that you could actually drive. This scale model is for display only. Of course, people pay far more than this for works of art that just hang on the wall. So, if you are a well-heeled fan of F1 and want something that no one else has, then this purchase makes sense. But if/when this model ever hits the open market again, it will be interesting to see if this incredible price will ever be matched. And is this strong sales result going to encourage other folks to build replica models like this? Time will tell.
Images: Bring a Trailer
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