Juan Manuel Fangio
On June 24, 1911, Juan Manuel Fangio was born. In the Balcarce Registry, by mistake, he appears as having been born a day earlier, on the 23rd. Over time, two more siblings were born, Rubén Renato and Carmen.
He began his primary studies at School No. 4 of Balcarce, on Calle 13 between Chacabuco and San Lorenzo, directed by teacher Melitón Lozano. In Fourth Grade he goes to School No. 1 on Av. Uriburu and 18.
Juan Manuel did not want to be a bricklayer but he helped his father Don Loreto, who decided to take his 9-year-old boy to work in Francisco Cerri's blacksmith shop, where the area's carriages are serviced and all types of metal forging are done.
He works and studies. He enters Capettini's mechanical workshop. That was swept daily by Juan Manuel, so he arrived early to move a Panhard Levassor with chain transmission. He would stand on the starter handle and start it. Then he would back up to clean the floor and return it to its place. With that excuse he repeated the operation several times. He was entertained by the rudiments of driving a car, the first he has in his hands. He finishes sixth grade.
In 1923 he joined Carlini's Rugby Dealership, an automobile dealer in the area. With him he learns to drive correctly because Carlini asked him to drive his truck when he went hunting. They also go around the area repairing agricultural machinery and sometimes they allow him to drive.
He goes to the Ford agency in Estevez, whose chief mechanic, Guillermo Spain, guides him regarding the component parts of the engine. At the age of 13 he joined as a mechanic's assistant in the workshop of Miguel Viggiano on 14th Street and 19th Street, also a local pilot. There he learns the secrets of engine tuning. Viggiano was a Studebaker agent.
He owns his first car: a four-cylinder Overland that he receives as part of his salary. He turns it into a race car, but without racing. He plays soccer with his friends. At 16 years old, he fell ill with pleurisy and had to rest for almost a year.
He debuts as a companion for Manuel Ayerza, a client of the workshop and local pilot. He does it aboard a 1928 Chevrolet in a zonal race contested from Coronel Vidal to General Guido and back, on what is now Highway 2 "Juan Manuel Fangio." Seconds arrive. She participates again as a companion, this time for her brother-in-law José Brujas Font in the dirt circuit called "La Chata" in Balcarce that bordered the field where the Aero Club stands today. She does it with a 1929 Plymouth 4 cylinder.
She completed her Military Service, serving during the year 1931 in the VI Cavalry Regiment of Campo de Mayo.
The idea of opening a workshop arose with his friend José Duffard in 1932. In those days they had some clients and they fixed their cars at the door of his house on 13th Street. Don Loreto offered him a piece of land in front, next to his house and They build the workshop there. Some old car chassis beams act as beams, the zinc sheets to build the roof, they "get" them at night, in an abandoned house in the countryside. A friend does the carpentry, Juan Manuel and José Duffard dig the pit for this dirt floor workshop. Others raise 80 pesos to buy the tools. A football friend Francisco Cavalloti joins the company, contributing an old truck as capital.
In 1933 he played soccer for Leandro Alem and for Mitre, becoming a member of the Balcarce soccer team.
They moved the workshop to Boulevard del Valle and 14th Street during 1934. They paid half the rent for the place with a merchant, who occupied the front part of the premises where they sold fuel. Behind, they are. Things are going well and they soon take over the entire corner. The company expands with the incorporation of Bernardo Duffard, José's brother. They grow, Fangio cements his commercial and mechanical knowledge. Soccer, dances, meeting friends and work occupy the days of those friends.
On October 25, 1936, he made his debut as a driver under the pseudonym "Rivadavia", the name of his first football club, in an unofficial race at the Benito Juárez circuit, with a 1929 Ford "A", No. 19, blue, which It operated as a taxi and was owned by the father of his friend Gilberto Bianculli, who accompanies him. They had to abandon when they were third with two laps to go, due to melting a connecting rod. On December 13 of that year he was disqualified in Gonzáles Chaves for arriving late to the circuit aboard a 1930 Ford "A", No. 9, gray, owned by the father of another friend, Leonardo Yalea. He is also accompanied by Bianculli.
On March 21, 1937, he participated in an unofficial race at the "La Chata" circuit in Balcarce with an 8-cylinder Buick that Oscar Rezusta lent him. He is accompanied by José Duffard. When he leaves he remains with the gear lever in his hand. With a screwdriver he sets the gear to third gear and runs like that. He sideswipes the car against a sewer and has to abandon it.
He made his official debut as a driver on March 27, 1938 at the Necochea circuit with a '38 Ford V8 engine, mounted on a '34, red chassis that he acquired with the support of several friends. He is third in the Second Series after setting the fifth time in Qualification. He starts at the front in the final, but is classified seventh. Carlos Arzani wins with an Alfa Romeo 3800. In September, Fangio enters the Olavarría race with his Ford V8 but does not participate. His first performance in Turismo Carretera as a companion for Luis Finocchietti, Balcarce driver, took place from October 18 to 30, 1938. They did it with a Ford model 37 No. 28, in the Argentine Road Grand Prix. They finish seventh and Fangio leads much of the race. On Sunday, November 13, 1939, he ran the "400 km of Tres Arroyos" with his Ford V8, accompanied by Bianculli. He was suspended due to a fatal accident while qualifying the first four laps of the competition, finishing eighth.
In 1939 he participated in the "Circuito del Bosque". It is the last race with the Ford V8 in his hands and he is accompanied by Héctor Tieri, a mechanic from his workshop. On October 19 at the Argentine Grand Prix, he debuted as a driver in the TC alongside Tieri. The black 1939 Chevrolet coupe was acquired with the support of many people from Balcarce, in a collection made by his friends. He finishes twenty-second in Concordia in the middle of mud and rain, which interrupts the Grand Prix. It resumes from Córdoba under the name of Extraordinary Grand Prix and is soon ahead of the entire official Chevrolet team. He achieved his first victory in competition, by winning the Fourth Stage from Catamarca to San Juan. There he is first in the General Classification of the race, but then an accident drops him to fifth place.
During 1940, while the workshop continued to grow, at the beginning of the year its members bought another of the corners located on del Valle and 14 across the avenue, where there was an old warehouse and they carried out its demolition themselves. They work from 6 to 8 in the morning, and then cross over and serve the clients of the workshop. Fangio begins to think that motorsports can give a good name to the business, if they can show the quality of the work. He begins to take shape what will eventually become a strong company, "Fangio, Duffard y Cía." Juan's younger brother, Rubén Renato, is added as qualified. This is how those years go by, when everything was difficult. In October, after 9,500 km of competition through Argentina-Bolivia and Peru, he wins his first race in Road Tourism. It is the International Grand Prix of the North, Buenos Aires-Lima-Buenos Aires, being accompanied by H. Tieri. The green 1940 Chevrolet No. 26 was acquired with the proceeds of a raffle in which the car was 1st Prize. With the money earned in that race he buys it definitively and of the remaining part, he gives half to the company to free it of interest. He is classified as Argentine TC Champion and is the first in history with Chevrolet. . He begins the duel with Oscar Gálvez in the TC. Chevrolet vs. Ford - Fangio vs. Galvez.
On June 22-29, 1941 he obtained an international victory in TC. He wins with his 1940 Chevrolet coupe over Oscar Gálvez, in the Getulio Vargas Grand Prix in Brazil. On December 13 he wins the Argentine Thousand Miles. He is consecrated for the second time, Argentine TC Champion. At the Café Nacional, located at Avenida Corrientes 980 in the San Nicolás neighborhood, Anselmo Aieta premieres the Tango "Fangio".
On January 21, 1942, the South GP started. He wins in the Second and in the last Stage. He finishes tenth in the General Classification. On April 2 he wins the Mar y Sierras, always with the green 1940 Chevrolet coupe.
In 1943, Fangio, who had dedicated himself to the workshop, joined forces with his friend Héctor Barragán and they traveled permanently to the south of the country buying trucks and trailers to sell only tires, which were scarce in Argentina due to the war.
In 1946 he returned to competition activity and participated in two unofficial dirt track competitions with Ford "T", in Morón and Tandil. He is second in one Series in Morón and wins a Challenge in the other. The machines are provided by Nardi and Naranjo, respectively.
On February 15, 1947, he competed in Mecánica Nacional (MN) at the Retiro Circuit with a Ford "T" chassis Chevrolet "La Negrita", in a race prior to the race corresponding to the First International Season in Argentina, with the presence of the European Grand Prix aces. On March 1st he competes in the Ciudad de Rosario Prize with the same car, after winning in MN he is by regulation enabled to compete in the Grand Prix car event that Aquiles Varzi wins with Alfa Romeo. It is his debut in international track tests with a National Mechanics car. He buys another monoposto to replace "La Negrita". It is a red Volpi chassis with a Rickemabaker engine that was later replaced by a 6-cylinder Chevrolet, triumphing on August 17 at the GP Ciudad de Montevideo-Uruguay and on September 20 at the GP Primavera in Mar del Plata. He repeats his success on October 29 in TC with a 1939 Chevrolet with a red '46 engine, in the Double Lap of the Window.
On January 17, 1948, a Grand Prix machine ran for the first time at the Palermo Circuit. It is a Maserati 4CL 1500 from the French Naphtra Course team that belonged to the driver George Raph. On February 28-29 he wins the Vuelta de Pringles and on April 24-25 the Vuelta de Entre Ríos with his red 1939 Chevrolet TC. He then triumphed in three MN races, on March 21 at the Palermo Autumn Prize, on March 28 at the Necochea Beach 100 Miles and on May 2 at the Mercedes Uruguay City Prize, all with Volpi - Chevrolet. On July 18 he leaves on a study trip to the USA and Europe through factories and circuits with other ACA pilots and managers. In France he is invited by Amadeo Gordini to compete with a Simca Gordini in Reims. He abandons the two tests in which he participates. It is his debut in Grand Prix races in Europe. On October 29, racing in the South American Grand Prix between Buenos Aires and Caracas, he crashes in the Seventh Stage north of Lima in Huanchasco. In that accident, his companion Daniel Urrutia died.
On February 6, 1949 he wins the Jean Pierre Wimille Prize at the Palermo Circuit with the Volpi-Chevrolet in MN. On February 27 he obtained his first victory against European drivers in Special Cars. He is at the "El Torreón" Circuit in Mar del Plata racing a Maserati 4CLT/48 with blue and yellow colors. On March 20 with Volpi Chevrolet in MN, he returns to victory in the Premio Fraile Muerto de Bell Ville. He is Captain of the Argentine team "Aquiles Varzi" that travels to Italy, to settle near Milan, in Galliate. In Europe he participates in 10 races and wins in 6 of them: on April 3 in San Remo, on April 18 in Pau, on May 8 in Perpignan all with Maserati 4CLT/48, on May 22 in Marseille with Simca, on June 26 in Monza with Ferrari 125 and on July 10 in Albi with Maserati 4CLT/48. Upon his return to Argentina he is received by a crowd. The Cordoban Association of Flyers gives him a silver plaque "IN PROOF OF ADMIRATION". He participates in the Road Grand Prix with his red 1939-1946 Chevrolet coupe, finishing second to Juan Gálvez. It is his farewell to the TC Category. President Juan Perón gives him a medal "TO THE GENTLEMAN OF SPORTS" on the balcony of the Casa Rosada. The Automobile Club of Mendoza distinguishes it with the Gold Condor "IN HONOR OF MERIT".
On April 10, 1950, he won the Pau GP with Maserati 4CLT/48. A week later on April 16, he wins the San Remo GP with an Alfa Romeo 158. He signs a contract and debuts in the official Alfa Romeo team alongside Farina and Fagioli, competing in the first F1 World Championship. On May 21 in Monaco he achieved his first scoring victory. On June 11 he races in F2 and wins at the Circuit des Remparts de Anguleme with Maserati 4CLT/48. He returns to F1 winning at the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchams on June 18, at Reims on July 2, the Geneva GP des Nations on July 30 and the Pescara GP on August 15. He is SUB WORLD CHAMPION behind Farina. He returns to Argentina where he competes and wins the GP Ciudad de Paraná on November 12 and the GP Presidente Alesandri Palma in Chile on December 18, both with Ferrari 125. His last presentation of the year is on December 24, triumphing in the 500 Argentine Miles in Rafaela with Talbot-Lago. He achieves 11 victories this year in the different competitions in which he participated. On October 27, 1950, "FANGIO, DEMONIO DE LAS PISTAS" premiered at the Ocean Cinema, a feature-length Argentine film produced by Armando Bó and directed by Román Viñoly Barreto. From the Chilean Flyers Association he receives a gold medal in "TRIBUTE TO HIS PERFORMANCE IN EUROPE".
In 1951 he began his second season for the World Championship with Alfa Romeo 159, triumphing in the Swiss GP in Berne on May 27, the European GP in Reims on July 1, and the Spanish GP in Reims on October 28. Pedralbes Circuit of Barcelona. There he conquers his FIRST WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP. On September 2 in a non-scoring race, he wins the F1 Bari GP.
On January 13, 1952 he won the Interlagos GP and on February 3 the "Quinta da Boa Vista" GP, both in Brazil. In February he is appointed Mercedes-Benz Dealer. In Argentina he wins the President Perón Award on March 9 and the Eva Perón Award on March 16. In Uruguay he competes and triumphs in two races at the Piriápolis Circuit on March 23 and 30. He competes in all competitions with a Ferrari 125. After racing in Ireland on June 7 with BRM, he must travel to Italy to compete in a competition in Monza on the 8th with a Maserati. Much of the route is done in a car, traveling alone and arriving hours before the start. In the third lap he suffers a serious accident at the Lesmo curve. He must remain hospitalized for almost four months. The great world of motorsports considered him finished and many distanced themselves from the World Champion.
On July 12, 1953 with Maserati A6GCM he won a mountain climb in the Vue des Alpes in Switzerland. Racing Alfa Romeo 6C sport, he wins the GP Supercortemaggiore of Merano on September 6. Fangio, as part of the Maserati team, on September 13, achieved a spectacular victory in Monza over Farina and Ascari in the last corner. He is WORLD RUNNER-IN CHAMPION behind Alberto Ascari. On November 19 he wins the IV Carrera Panamericana in Mexico with Lancia D24.
At the beginning of the 1954 season he ran two notable races with a Maserati 250F, winning the GP of the Argentine Republic on January 17 and the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps on June 20. He signs a contract with Mercedes Benz. With the "Silver Arrow" W196 continues to add points for the World Championship, making its debut by winning at the French GP in Reims on July 4 and continuing with the European GP at Nürburgring on August 1, the Swiss GP in Bern on August 22 and the Italian GP in Monza on September 5. With Mercedes Benz W196 he obtains his SECOND WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP. He is distinguished as "SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR". He receives the First Olimpia from the Association of Sports Journalists of the Argentine Republic.
In 1955 he once again joined the Mercedes Benz team, now with Stirling Moss as his partner, with the silver W196. He wins on January 16 at the Argentine GP, on June 5 at the Belgian GP in Spa-Francorchamps, on June 19 at the Dutch GP in Zandvoort and on September 11 at the Italian GP in Monza. . He wins the THIRD WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP, always with Mercedes Benz W196. Outside the championship, his other triumphs are, on January 30 at the Ciudad de Buenos Aires GP with MB W196 in the Free Formula category, on May 29 at the Eiffel Prize at Nürburgring and on August 7 at the Swedish GP at Kristianstad. both in Sport with MB 300 SLR and finally on November 6 at the Venezuelan Caracas GP with Maserati 300 S. He was awarded the "TAZIO NUVOLARI AWARD", honor of Italian journalism for the best driver, awarded unanimously in the city of Mantua , birthplace of the pre-war Italian ace. The prize consists of a golden turtle, a reproduction of the emblem with which the driver painted on the hood of his competition machines.
In 1956, when the Mercedes Benz team retired from F1, Fangio signed for Ferrari. His World Championship wins were: on January 22 at the Argentine GP, on July 14 at the British GP at the Silverstone circuit and on August 5 at the German GP at the Nürburgring circuit, all of them. with Lancia-Ferrari D50 and achieved his FOURTH WORLD DRIVERS TITLE in the last race at the Italian GP at the Monza circuit on September 2, when he qualified second with Peter Collins' car. His other triumphs outside the F1 Championship were, on February 5 at the Ciudad de Buenos Aires GP with Lancia-Ferrari D50, on March 24-25 at the 12 Hours of Sebring with Ferrari Monza 860 and on April 15 at the Syracuse GP with Lancia-Ferrari D50. The book "THE LIFE STORY OF FANGIO" by Federico B.Kirbus and Roland Hansen is published, printed in English and French. The Argentine Flyers Association of Rosario gives him the largest trophy he has ever received. He has his height and his weight. The text is accompanied with four gold stars. It was not thought that he would repeat another Championship.
In 1957 he signed a contract with Maserati to race the 250F model and won four races qualifying for the F1 World Championship, on January 13 the Argentine Republic GP, on May 19 the Monaco GP, on July 7 the French GP in Rouen-les-Esasrts and on August 4 the German GP in Nürburging when he beats the Ferrari team with Collins and Hawthorn in a spectacular race. He achieves his FIFTH TITLE OF WORLD CHAMPION OF PILOTS. The remaining triumphs outside the F1 world championship are on January 27 at the Ciudad de Buenos Aires GP with Maserati 250F, on February 25 at the Cuban GP, Havana with Maserati 300S, on March 23 in the 12 Hours of Sebring with Maserati 450S, on June 9 at the Portuguese GP in Lisbon with Maserati 300S and finally the double victory in Brazil with Maserati 300S, on December 1 in Interlagos and on December 8 in Boa Vista. He is honored twice, in the month of October with the "DRIVER OF THE YEAR TROPHY", awarded by the Guild of British Motoring Writers and presented by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. In November as "NÜRBURGRING MASTER" ("Ring Meister"), with a Diamond Star, a title and trophy awarded to the driver who has won three times -54,56,57- in a row (1955 was not raced), on the Nürburgring circuit. On that occasion he is declared a GUEST OF HONOR by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Teodor Heuss, who presents him with the distinctions. Mercedes Benz gives him a metallic blue 300SL roadster for his birthday.
On February 3, 1958 he won his last race, the GP Ciudad de Buenos Aires and on July 6 he decided to retire at the Reims circuit while driving his Maserati 250F. There he had debuted 10 years before. That year he was kidnapped in Cuba by the "26 de Julio" Group, not being able to run the Cuban GP with a Maserati 450S and he also cannot run in Indianapolis due to lack of intelligence in his team to get his car in condition, although he does compete in the Two World Cup in Monza with a Dean Van Lines Sp. He is decorated "OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF MERIT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC" in the rank of Commander, awarded on November 11 by the President of the Italian Republic, Giovanni Gronchi. Distinguished on two occasions: "THE MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS FEAT IN THE WORLD", annual award from the French Academy of Sports, which is offered to him by its President, the Marquis de Creque-Monfort. "TRIBUTE TO FANGIO" is released, a 20-minute non-commercial film, produced by British Petroleum, a compilation of newsreels and scenes of Fangio in action on the Modena circuit and in the Villa of Como. By Louis Chirón , the motorsports royalty of the world, presents him with the trophy "TO THE GREATEST CHAMPION OF ALL TIMES" that bears the signature of some of his adversaries. Others dedicate it "TO THE TEACHER".
References:
https://www.diariopopular.com.ar/la-casa-juan-manuel-fangio-parque-patricios-n277892
https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/monumento-fangio
06/2021
In 1959, after his retirement, he was distinguished as "HONORARY PRESIDENT" of the Automobile Sports Commission of the Argentine Republic.
In 1962 named honorary president of the "Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix F1" and its founder, jointly with Ives Giraud - Cabantous, Louis Chiron, Gianfranco Comotti, Toulo de Graffenried, Albert Divo, Nino Farina, Paul Frère and Robert Manzon .
In 1969 he headed the Argentine Mission in the 84 Hours of Nürburgring for Touring cars where the Argentine-made Torino did a great job. He was the author of the project. He is decorated "OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF MERIT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC" in the rank of Grand Officer, awarded on September 11 by the President of the Italian Republic, Guiseppe Saragat.
In 1971 the film "Fangio" directed by Hugh Hudson was made.
In his honor, in 1972, the "Juan M. Fangio" racetrack in the City of Balcarce was inaugurated, with an international Sport Prototype test.
He was named "ILLUSTRIED CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF BUENOS AIRES" in 1973, along with Nobel Prize winner Luis F. Leloir and the award-winning Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges.
In April 1974 he was appointed President of Mercedes Benz Argentina.
In 1976, "FANGIO" was released, a feature-length film produced by Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata and Gualteiro Jacopetti and directed by Hugh Hudson. Filmed in 1971 and 1973. It is released worldwide on June 12 in Buenos Aires, at the Normandie and Premier cinemas. Duration: 90 min. Also that year he was awarded the "ORDER OF MERIT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY", in the rank of Commander, awarded on June 24 by the president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Walter Scheel. The insignia were presented to him in Buenos Aires by ambassador Jörg Kastl.
In 1977 he received from the Abruzzo Region of Italy, "A RICORDO DEL PRIMO DEGLI EMIGRANTI ABRUZZESI D'OLTRIOCEANO".
In 1978 he was decorated "COMMANDER OF THE NATIONAL ORDER", awarded on October 24 by the President of the Ivory Coast, Félix Huphouet Boigny and the insignia were presented to him, in Abidjan, by the Minister of State Mathieu Ekra.
In 1979 he was decorated "COMMANDER OF MASTERL GRACE" of the Sovereign, Military, Hospitaller Order of Saint George of Carincia (dynastic-national Order of the Imperial House of Absburg). In November, the magazine "El Grafico" awards him the "JUAN MANUEL FANGIO, SYMBOL OF ARGENTINE SPORTS" trophy.
During the sixties and seventies, Juan Manuel Fangio lived at Avenida Caseros 2967, in the Parque Patricios neighborhood. On the door of the building there is a plaque that commemorates it.
On the eve of the Brazilian GP on January 27, 1980, he was elected "THE BEST MOTOR DRIVER OF ALL TIME", a distinction awarded by the International Racing Press Association (IRPA), after voting among its members. The survey shows Fangio with 278 points, Jackie Stewart with 255, Jim Clark with 253, Stirling Moss with 99 points and Niki Lauda with 66 points. He is designated "HONORABLE MEMBER" of the International Sportscar Federation (FISA), on February 22. On November 6, he receives the Konex Brilliant Award, awarded "TO THE GREATEST IN THE HISTORY OF ARGENTINE SPORTS."
In April 1981, a tender was put out to tender and in August work on the Museum in Balcarce began by the "Juan Manuel Fangio Pro-Museum of Motoring" Commission, under the presidency of Engineer Luis Carlos Barragán and made up of prominent residents. The architects of the work - span 80/84 - are Eduardo Alvarez Manzaneda and Jorge Roberto Trivigno.
On December 8, 1982, he underwent heart surgery where five by-passes were performed, performed by Dr. René Favaloro at the Güemes Sanatorium. From the Quatro Rodas Magazine of Brazil he receives the trophy "O MELHOR PILOTO DE Todos os TEMPOS".
On November 25, 1983, he participated in the "Grand Prize of Memory", a caravan held through the center of the city of Buenos Aires and a static exhibition at the Palermo Fairgrounds, to contribute funds to the Children's Board and the Assistance Association to the Minor of the Province of Buenos Aires. He participated with a 1940 model Chevrolet TC that he owned, a copy of the car with which he won the Northern GP in 1940.
On October 1, 1984 he received the "VERMEIL MEDAL" awarded by the municipality of Paris.
During 1985, work accelerated on the Fangio de Balcarce Museum, which will contain the trophies won by the five-time World Champion and the cars he drove in his campaign. Support is received from the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart - Germany. Antonio Eduardo Mandiola is now its architect. Other companies like Philips Argentina. Isaura, Pirelli Cables, Goodyear, the Association of Southeastern Province Producers, Santa Lucía Cristal, Sevel, Autolatina (Volkswagen-Ford), Marlboro, the Argentine Automobile Club and the contribution of their friends, under the title of adherents and donors which are fundamental for this last stage. The work of the members of the Pro Museo Commission is becoming more valuable every day.
On June 17, 1986, Fangio and Juan Manuel Bordeu created the "Juan Manuel Fangio Foundation", which is witnessed in Public Deed by Notary Lidia de Benedetti. On November 22, the Fangio Museum opens. The Pro-Museum Commission delivers the finished work to the Foundation of which Juan Manuel Fangio is the Honorary President and Juan Manuel Bordeu is the first President of the Council. The Foundation's main objective is to preserve, maintain and increase Fangio's sports heritage. Among others, the drivers who were rivals surround the champion, Luis Villoresi, Phil Hill, Jack Brabham, Tony Brooks, María Teresa de Filipis, Maurice Trintignant, José Froilán González, Caroll Shelby, Sergio Mantovani, among others. It is celebrated at the Museum, at the Crespi Industry and at La Peregrina, a country establishment of the Bordeu family. Furthermore, that year it was distinguished by the CLUB INTERNATIONAL DES ANCIENT PILOTES DE GRAND PRIX.
In 1987, in October, he was named "Honorary Life President of Mercedes Benz Argentina", the only distinction granted in its history by the German factory, a position that he would hold until his death.
In September 1989 he received the "Aguila de Buenos Aires" Award awarded by the Order of Knights of San Martín de Tours.
In 1990, he was appointed President of the "Renault Foundation" and in Córdoba, leaders, journalists and athletes linked to mechanical sports paid him a great tribute at the Renault factory. On November 21, Juan Manuel Bordeu dies. Fangio is truly saddened by the unexpected loss of this loyal friend, who had been with him since 1959.
In 1991 Fangio turns 80 years old. In April he is invited to the USA. The Contest of Elegance is held in Peable Beach in his honor. On the Laguna Seca track he is seen with his Mercedes Benz Silver Arrow and in the pits, with the presentation of Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Talbot among other vintage machines and countless souvenirs under his name. Until then, it is an annual custom to present a car brand in Laguna Seca. For Fangio they carry out the first tribute to a pilot. In August the Pirelli-Mercedes Benz Book by Stirling Moss is presented at a Gala dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London. An emotional tribute is held at the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart with the presence of managers, friends and old and young drivers. He receives from the hands of Max Gerrit von Pein, a replica of the first car, a Daimler 1886. He is distinguished as "THE SYMBOL JOURNALIST OF ARGENTINA" by the Circle of Sports Journalists.
In 1992, surgery was performed to remove a benign tumor in the kidneys. His kidney problems begin and get worse as the months go by. He meets Ayrton Senna in Buenos Aires on the occasion of an event for the Brazilian driver's sponsoring company. This meeting reflected the mutual affection they felt for each other. He is named "Honoris Causa" Professor of the Catholic University of Santiago del Estero in Argentina.
On May 29, 1993, the Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Army grants him the "ORDER TO DISTINGUISHED SERVICES, TO CIVIL MERIT IN THE GRADE OF COMMANDER". On the Island of Sardinia he participates in a historic F1 competition with the Alfetta 159, along with aces of his time. It will be the last time that Juan Manuel Fangio drives a race car. He travels to Stuttgart and must be hospitalized for a few days and then return to the country.
On December 29, 1993, he had to be admitted to the Mater Dei Clinic in the Federal Capital due to hypercalcemia in the blood. He had already been doing three dialysis sessions a week.
At the beginning of 1994, after retiring from the Clinic, he practically rested at his home in Palermo Viejo and would no longer attend his work at Mercedes-Benz on Avda. Del Libertador. He leaves due to the regret of President Axel Arent, of the directors Ricardo Berthold and Enrique Federico. Also from the rest of the staff and his efficient secretary Ricardo Ross. He also leaves his usual assistance to Automotores Fangio on Av.Montes de Oca. He is always surrounded by friends. At their request, Stirling Moss arrives in Argentina to see him alive for the last time.
In 1995 his health deteriorated more and more, always assisted and with the company of his closest relatives, his niece Ruth Fangio, his nephew-in-law Roland Verdier and his wife Dolly. He is briefly hospitalized under the watchful eye of the highest officials of Mercedes Benz Argentina. On June 24 he shares with his family and friends the last meeting on the occasion of his birthday. On July 15, a flu condition that resulted in pneumonia forced him to be admitted to the Mater Dei Clinic with serious respiratory problems. Fangio died on Monday, July 17 at 4:10 a.m. in the morning surrounded by affection. His remains were guarded by an honor guard and veiled in the White Room of the Government House, in the Argentine Automobile Club and the next day in the Balcarce Museum. His remains are taken to the Family Pantheon in the cemetery of his hometown, along with his deceased parents and siblings, as was his wish. This occurs on the afternoon of July 18 in the midst of a distraught crowd.
In 2003, in the Tres de Febrero Park, the “Paseo Fangio” was inaugurated, which extends over the route that the old automobile circuit had for years, in which the five-time world champion raced for the first time in a car. Grand Prix, in 1948.
During 2005, in Juana Manso and Azucena Villaflor in the Puerto Madero neighborhood, a full-scale monument was inaugurated. He is represented with his "Silver Arrow", the Mercedes-Benz W196 that accompanied him in several feats.
