Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum: a $120m legacy

Since it opened in 1956, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has been a world-wide draw for automotive fans. For almost seven decades its curators have sought to gather some of the finest and most historic collector cars in the world, gradually growing its exhibits from 12 cars to a collection of over 300. The recent decision to refocus the museum toward cars that share an intrinsic link with The Brickyard proved a turning point, meaning several of its incredibly rare pieces had to find new homes. Enter RM Sotheby’s, which auctioned 11 landmark vehicles across a series of events in February 2025. Some of these made history, such as the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Stromlinienwagen and Le Mans-winning 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, both profiled earlier in this issue. These are the rest of the collection. In total, lots from the Museum raised over $120m.

Mercedes 17.3-litre 150 HP ‘Brookland’ Semmering Rennwagen

Year 1908  /  Price $8.255m

Yes, you read that right. Seventeen-point-three litres. Engineers were ambitious animals during the dawn of the 1900s, and this one-off factory-built racer epitomised the quest for power of the time. With the mighty (and one-off!) 17.3-litre four cylinder mounted up front, it was built to take on the Semmering Hill Climb in Austria, at the time one of the world’s most gruelling competitions.

“Its provenance is unquestionable… even its cylinders are individually dated”

Driver Otto Salzer conquered it, achieving a new record of 81.2kph. He then improved that to 84.3kph on his way to a second victory a year later. The car then changed ownership a handful of times before being acquired by the Museum for an eye-watering at the time $30,000 in 1964. Its provenance is unquestionable, with its original chassis tags, numbered radiator and carburettor… even its cylinders are individually dated.

Laurin & Klement Type S2 Sportswagen

Year 1911  /  Price $179,000

Laurin & Klement was a Prague-based constructor that operated only between 1906 and 1928, but despite its short lifespan it did leave a lasting impact on the automotive world by gradually evolving into Škoda. Only three of these twin-cylinder four-stroke machines were ever made, and this is the sole survivor. But it got more interesting after the modifications made by its first owner, Baron Leo Haan. A seasoned racer, he fitted a wooden rudder behind the tail linked to the steering, allowing the rudder to change direction with the car and provide side force, preventing skidding around turns. After some success in hillclimbs, the Baron sold it to Günther Heger, who stored it for 40 years before offering it to the Museum in 1964. Almost entirely original and unrestored aside from a light mechanical refresh. A sales note suggested rebuilding the original wooden wheels should its new owner fancy running it in anger.

Mercedes 22/40 HP ‘Colonial’ Double Phaeton

Year 1911  /  Price $268,800

A superb early example of luxury motoring, Mercedes’ 22/40 PS (40 HP for the American market) is powered by a 5.6-litre T-head four-cylinder engine. Buyers had the choice of a modern shaft drive or a classic ‘Colonial’ chain drive that offered greater ground clearance. Given that this particular example ended up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the chain-drive option was fitting. First ordered by Robert, Pusterla y Cía (an Argentine Mercedes dealer) it came with paperwork covering its life in South America and resulting transit to the USA after being bought by the Museum following long-running negotiations in 1971. While restored, the car retained its original carburettor, ignition system, switch panel and even driver’s side flooring and chassis tags.

Benetton B191

Year 1991  /  Price $775,000

Perhaps an odd acquisition given Formula 1 boasted only one American race in 1991, and that was in not-so-nearby Phoenix, Arizona. However, it’s the link to all-time grand prix great Michael Schumacher that temped the Museum to invest in this piece of rolling history. When Roberto Moreno got the boot it opened the door for Schumacher to settle in for the final five races of 1991, fresh from his grand prix debut with Jordan at Spa. Chassis B191-08 took Schumacher to fourth in the opening race of 1992 before being handed to Martin Brundle. It scored three points toward the 1992 drivers’ and constructors’ championships before being retired in favour of the updated B192. The Museum bought it in 2005 from a US-based private collector.

Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64

Year 1957  /  Price $7.705m

Like something out of The Jetsons, and billed as the most desirable Corvette in the world. This was the first purpose-built GM race car and a personal project of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the engineer nicknamed the ‘Father of the Corvette’. Powered by a 283cu-in V8 and with a four-speed manual gearbox it is an exercise in lightweight construction with stunning magnesium bodywork. John Fitch and Piero Taruffi raced it in the 1957 Sebring 12 Hours, it was also once a cover star for Sports Illustrated magazine. Barring the SS show car, this was the first Corvette to run with the famous Super Sport badging. Arkus-Duntov himself brokered the car’s donation to the Museum in May 1967.

Ford GT40 Mk II

Year 1966  /  Price $13.205m

“It had resided at the Museum since its donation in March 1968”

It may not be wearing an iconic livery, but this GT40 is one of just eight 7-litre MkIIs and came with superb provenance. Driven to second place in the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours by Walt Hansgen and Mark Donohue, it then went on to race at Le Mans that year as one of three Holman-Moody entered cars.

It had resided at the Museum since its donation in March 1968, and has been fully restored in 2011 to its Le Mans ’66 configuration. Prior to its sale, it was last shown outside of the Museum at the 2011 Concours d’Elegance of America.

Spirit of America Sonic 1

Year 1965  /  Price $1.325m

“Sonic 1 took Craig Breedlove to a staggering 600.601mph in 1965”

Perhaps the most outlandish lot in an already fever-dream sale. Spirit of America Sonic 1 was the machine that carried Craig Breedlove into the history books when it achieved a staggering 600.601mph run on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats in November 1965, establishing a new Land Speed Record.

At over 35 feet in length, the fuselage body houses a GE J79 turbojet engine with afterburner. After its retirement from record-chasing, the Museum acquired it in 1975 and it had been a standout attraction ever since. Incidentally, it was also driven by Breedlove’s wife, Lee, who achieved a women’s land speed record of 308.506mph. That’s one fast family!

Itala 120 HP Works Racing Car

Year 1907  /  Price $1.325m

At the turn of the century, young manufacturer Itala was keen to make its mark in racing. Soon after its foundation the brutish 120 HP was designed to take on the likes of Mercedes. Featuring a quite ludicrous 14.8-litre overly square engine, Italian driver Alessandro Cagno scored a string of successes in events such as the Coppa Della Velocita and Coppa Florio to put Itala on the map. This is one of only two 1907 120 HP Itala models remaining, it was formerly owned by British speed record pioneer Henry Segrave, who bought the car in 1916 and then crashed it into a London Taxi at Marble Arch in 1917. It joined the Museum in December 1965 and underwent a full restoration.

Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix

Year 1930  /  Price $1.38m

It’s rare that you’ll find any near-100-year-old car in such a fine and original condition as this Bugatti. The model that first rolled out at the 1924 French Grand Prix changed the game for Bugatti, helping the Type 35 to become one of the most successful racing designs of all time, winning over 1000 times in period. This supercharged 35B had known history since new with six owners in total, including Georges Bouriano, Arthur Legat and Colonel George ‘Fearless’ Felton. In the care of the Museum since 1960, it still featured the original chassis frame, engine and rear axle, despite a healthy competition career around Europe both before and after World War II.