The Very First Sauber-Mercedes C9-Chassis C9.87.01
Chassis C9.87.01 is the very first Sauber-Mercedes C9 constructed, an important car in the evolution of Group C racing. Built by Sauber with Mercedes-Benz support, the C9 combined a rigid aluminum monocoque with advanced ground-effect aerodynamics and a twin-turbocharged V8 engine developed in Stuttgart. In qualifying form, the five-liter unit could produce up to 800 horsepower, while its design emphasized durability at long distance.
The car was campaigned in the 1987 FIA World Sportscar Championship under the Kouros Racing Team banner, backed by Yves Saint Laurent’s fragrance division. Drivers included Mike Thackwell, Henri Pescarolo, and Hideki Okada. At that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the car retired after 16 hours with transmission trouble, but it achieved a notable victory at the Nürburgring later in the season with Jean-Louis Schlesser at the wheel.
In 1988, the Kouros sponsorship ended and the effort became a full Sauber-Mercedes factory team. Chassis 87.C9.01 was primarily used in testing and in the German Supercup, where Schlesser secured the championship with multiple victories. Later that year, the car also contested the season-ending Sandown Park 360 kilometers in Australia, finishing second overall with Mauro Baldi and Stefan Johansson.
By 1989, the chassis was fitted with the updated four-valve M119 engine and served as a test platform. Owing to its significance as the first C9, it was then retired from competition and retained in Peter Sauber’s collection, refinished in the iconic silver livery that marked Mercedes’ dominance in 1989. It remained there until its acquisition by the current owner in 2015. Under this owner, the car underwent a comprehensive two-year restoration by Moto Historics in the United Kingdom, rebuilt to the highest standards with a complete spares package and thorough attention to safety and reliability.
After acquisition by Mouse Motors in February 2022, Chassis C9.87.01 was immediately sent to Paul Lanzante Ltd. for cosmetic and mechanical recommissioning. The car was restored to its AEG Olympia livery, as raced in its 1988 Supercup-winning appearance at the Norisring. A comprehensive mechanical inspection and servicing were completed by Lanzante in April 2023, ensuring full operational integrity and historical authenticity.
Today, chassis 87.C9.01 stands as the starting point of the Silver Arrows’ Group C success—an historically significant machine prepared for both preservation and participation in the world’s most prestigious historic events.
