A 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 originally owned by the late Ayrton Senna is heading to auction this November after spending the last 21 years in Australia.
Purchased new by the Brazilian Formula 1 legend after his victory at the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions where he drove a similar car in the same colour, the car comes complete with all the right documentation including the factory purchase invoice, previous V5, and a tax import slip all in the Senna’s name.
This documentation shows Senna purchased the car at quite a friendly discount before taking delivery in October 1985. He personally collected the car from the Mercedes-Benz factory alongside fellow Brazilian F1 driver Maurício Gugelmin, and the two drove it back to Senna’s residence in Surrey, England.
Senna later reluctantly sold the 190 E to a friend of his manager two years and 24,862 miles later, the decision prompted by his move to McLaren, and thus Monaco.
The consigning owner later acquired the car in 1996, before bringing it Down Under with them after emigrating to Australia in 2004.
During its time here, the 190 E was presented at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, with the engine bay even being signed by Niki Lauda, then non-executive chairman of Mercedes’ F1 team.
Now, the 190 E is headed back to the UK, where it is set to be one of the starring lots in RM Sotheby’s London sale on November 1, 2025.
Presented with 154,302 miles on the clock and an extensive list of factory options specified by Senna – including a fire extinguisher, Becker Mexico stereo, tool kit, trickle charger, and unopened first aid kit – the 190 E is listed with a guide price between £220,000 and £250,000.
A pair of Alfa Romeos are currently the flagship lots in the London sale, with a 1937 8C 2900 B Spider in the style of Zagato currently guided at £3.5-5.5 million, followed by a 1932 6C 1750 Grand Sport Series V Spider by Touring worth between £800k and £1.2 million. A 1967 Iso Grifo GL Series I by Bertone also stars at £380-460k.
