Niki Lauda’s Burnt Helmet From Near-Fatal Accident Valued at $60,000 for an Auction

Andreas Nikolaus Lauda, who was well known around the circuits as Niki Lauda, was a former F1 world champion with a story unparallel to any other driver. Not only did he achieve the world championship title three times in his career, but also managed it after one of the most horrific accidents in the history of Formula 1. Niki Lauda met with a terrible accident on August 1, 1976, on the Nürburgring track, and his car burst into flames.

While taking a very fast left kink before Bergwerk during his second lap, his car swerved and hit an embankment before finally crashing into Brett Lunger’s Surtees-Ford. Although Lunger escaped his car, Lauda was stuck in the fire, only to be rescued by Arturo Merzario, Brett Lunger, Guy Edwards, and Harald Ertl. The helmet that the Swizz driver was wearing was faulty, leading to the damage caused to his face. Now that Lauda has ascended to the heavens, his helmet from the crash has shown up for auction, valued at $60,000.

Niki Lauda’s burnt helmet from near-fatal accident to fetch up to $60,000 at auction
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Lauda suffered third-degree burns on his head and hands while inhaling toxic fumes that caused lung and blood damage. The damage was caused by the modified helmet as it did not fit him properly. This led to the helmet sliding off his head during the crash, exposing his skin to the fire. While many thought that the crash was fatal when he went into a coma at the hospital, remarkably, Lauda woke and even started to recover.

Despite the crash, Niki Lauda only missed 2 races before getting back into the car. He finished the season second, only to win the title of world champion the following year and another in 1984. The story of Niki Lauda’s legacy will always be a testament to what a great motorsport driver is supposed to be like. The helmet is one of the most iconic relics in the history of Formula 1, as, after this accident, the sport took driver safety up by several levels. Furthermore, it was a tipping point to where we stand today. Recently, the unfortunate helmet of the legend surfaced on Reddit, leading to a frenzy in the F1 community.

F1 fans discuss the $60,000 Niki Lauda helmet being auctioned

The prize for the auction was $60,000 for a helmet that changed the face of the sport. Compared to the legend behind it, many fans expected the headgear to go for more. One even came forth to call the price “low nowadays.”

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Justifying the above comment, another user spoke about the hiked prices for F1Memorabilia Mystery Boxes and compared it to the helmet’s price. Mystery boxes are often known to not give equal value for the price, and considering this helmet records an important moment in F1 history, it is expected to be priced higher.

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Another fan expressed his belief that the helmet will not go for any less than $100,000, which looks like a fair price.

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In response, another user stated that he would not be surprised if it was sold for over a quarter of a million. He explained that at any point, two F1 fans who are billionaires might start a bidding war and end up paying as much as they would for a car for their children.

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One fan explained how the helmet is a “fascinating piece of memorabilia” and highlighted that people are paying thousands of dollars for their merchandise, although this gear was a better deal to purchase.

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That being said, it’s surprising that such an artifact is being put up for sale and not ending up in a museum. Hopefully, that will be the final destination for the helmet so the world can see how important safety during motorsports is.

Do you think $60,000 is a cheap asking price for the helmet? How much do you think it will finally go for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.