Fangio and the 6.9

[Oversize]

After a very long search I finally found concrete proof! WOW!!

And here's the thread that led to this point:

http://www.topklasse.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4613

To those that helped, I say a very big THANK YOU (116Benz and BHW)! I named the car 'Skye' due to her sky-blue colour. Now she's even more special. And to think I nearly used her for parts!!!

This isn't the end of the story; it's just the beginning.... There's more mysteries to solve here!

 

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A prologue by BY DON ANDREINA – APRIL 26, 2017 and a partial quote from the original article in The (Melbourne) Sun:

The 6.9 was launched in 1975, but we got it in 1978. Juan Manuel Fangio was in Australia that year to run a W196R GP car against Jack Brabham in his BT19. Before the race, some motoring journalists were taken for a spin in a 6.9. Peter Gavaghan of the Melbourne Sun;

‘The drive was a revelation as well as an exhilarating experience. As Fangio whisked me along it was impossible not to be infected by the passion for driving. There was never a moment’s anxiety. Fangio punted the heavy car in a display of skill and swift reflexes that belied his 67 years. He pushed the car around bends at substantially higher speeds than I would have done, but never once did he provoke a blink from any passengers.’

 

[BHW]

I'm glad you got your happy ending with Skye Now you'll have to treasure her even more as she's literally a piece of history. I learned a thing or two as well. It was your knowledge of Fangio that lead you down those roads. And I agree Re: W116 Advertising & Press Releases, "And this ladies and gentlemen is why you NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!"

 

[Oversize]

Here’s another article about the day. I suspect there was 2 x 6.9s circulating at the time; mine & Jeffs old car. No mention of Stirling Moss...

https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/...edes-benz-1971-300sel-631978-450sel-69-review

 

[Oversize]

Here's the latest pic from the day. We're still trying to ID the car in the background. At this stage we don't believe it's Jeff Kennett's old car (ALT165), so this pic could prove MB supplied at least 3 cars for the media release. The guy without the shirt is Stirling MOSS and the tall guy to the left is the owner of Emu Bottom.

 

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So why did it rotate the pic??? It was straight before I uploaded it....

 

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I’m hoping to head to the State Library late this week to check the archives....

 

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Went to the State Library a few days ago & checked the archives. Sadly ‘The Sun’ micro film was damaged and in the process of repair (since 2011)!!!! Not a lot to report apart from the fact the PM Malcolm Fraser was at Sandown and did several laps with Fangio!! Thinking about it the Sunbury event wouldn’t have been leaked to mainstream media as it’d attract far too much attention & as a result they wouldn’t be able to demonstrate the 6.9s abilities.... I’ve just bought some old magazines & we’ll see what turns up.

 

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And this is what hit the papers the following year:

 

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Cross fingers....

 

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Seek & Ye shall find!! An article probably not seen since 1978.... And no sign of any other car!!

 

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[BHW]

Fangio Museum Argentina I spotted this wealth of knowledge and history online. If you're a Fangio fan it's worth a peek Kudos again to Oversize. If you don't speak the language you'll have to set your browser to translate like I always do

http://www.museofangio.com/es/biografia/5-quinta-parte-1959-1984/

 

[Oversize]

Well apparently Stirling Moss WAS there on the day and the obvious clothing difference between El Chueco & Moss was due to their country of origin! Speeds reached were 240kmh with Vic Police IN one of the cars!

Here’s a pic of the Silver Arrow that was there and extremely loud..

 

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Apparently the nearby town of Monageeta was supposed to be called ‘Moneygetter’ but got lost in translation! Apparently the area made the owner rather wealthy hence the name!

 

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I’m beginning to think the car in the background is a W123 and not a 6.9. Victorian registration with the prefix BAB - - -

 

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Still no evidence of the ex-Jeff Kennett car actually being there... But it is hard to imagine MBA sending only one 6.9 to demo and so it’s likely Moss actually drove Jeff’s old car, not Fangio. And I just realised it makes perfect sense considering the colour!!!

 

[Oversize]

I ran into the guys that found this original pic and posted it on-line. Date stamped 17/10/1978 which is more than a month after the event. It appears to be an official MBA press release pic. I’m not sure if it was ever actually printed in the media but I’m doing more research.

Apparently Wheels Magazine journalists never got an invite, since they criticised the brakes on the regular 450!!!