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The fastest racing car transporter in the world
It was the star of the drivers’ crews – the royal blue racing car high-speed transporter from Mercedes-Benz. In the mid-fifties, it attracted more attention on Europe’s racing tracks than the Silver Arrows that it transported. However, its days were numbered when Mercedes withdrew from Grand Prix Racing in 1955. It eked out an existence as a refuse transporter on the factory premises before finally being scrapped in 1967. A restoration company from Mölln has now painstakingly reconstructed this famous racing transporter true to every last detail.
Mercedes and post-war racing sport.
With the newly developed 300 SL, Mercedes-Benz celebrated in 1952 its first successes in sports car racing tournaments such as the Mille Miglia. The Board of Management and the racing organizers were confident enough after notching up their first victories to return to the Grand Prix sports scene from 1954 onwards. In addition to the development of the 2.5-litre induction engine racing car W 196, Mercedes set itself the task of designing a racing car transport to match.
Alfred Neubauer, the legendary Mercedes-Benz racing organizer, had already designed a transporter for an eight-cylinder racing car back in 1924 for the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, and thus had a clear notion of how to construct the new racing transporter. It was supposed to be fast, very fast, even whilst carrying a Silver Arrow or an SLR, and be kitted out with the right brakes to handle this job.
In the responsible department for designing prototypes, it was agreed to combine the frame, engine and parts of the body from a number of vehicles, namely the X-tubular frame from the 300 S, the in-line six cylinder engine of the gullwing 300 SL model as well as components from the driver’s cab and the interior of the 180 series vehicles.
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The tubular frame was extended to create a larger load floor, the 3-litre engine was positioned just above the front axle and throttled from 215 bhp to 195 bhp. Hydraulic drum brakes with brake boosters, an additional disc brake and an engine brake ensured the required deceleration rates – quite a tall order for this transporter, which had a total weight of 3000 kg when laden and was capable of reaching top speeds of up to 170 km/h.
However, it was not only the performance, but also the body of this racing transporter that was unique – streamlined, flowing contours; a nose-shaped driver’s cab that bulged out to the rear, a fully panelled rear section and formal echoes of the 300 SL and SLR made this blue transporter a real eye-catcher away from the racing track.
For the racing department, this racing transporter proved to be a real blessing. Prior to the race itself, the racing team had more time for making those final adjustments and fine tuning, and could transport faulty cars back after the race more quickly in order to get them ready for the next competition.
When Daimler-Benz withdrew from motor racing in 1955, there was no longer any true usage for the now legendary racing transporter. First of all, it was borrowed at exhibitions in the United States, and was later used on the company premises back home as a refuse transporter, before finally being scrapped in 1967 on the instructions of the head of development Uhlenhauts.
Over the years, however, the number of enquiries about this unique specimen accrued at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Unfortunately, only few records could be found in the company archives. No design plans whatsoever could be found – the transporter had been designed “freehand” as it were. In the early 90’s, the decision was taken in Stuttgart to have the legend reconstructed true to the original in spite of the sketchy documents.
The restoration company MIKA GmbH in Mölln took on the challenge. On the basis of photos, verbal reports and reconstructed key data, the high-speed transporter was brought back to life within 7 years and around 6000 hours of labour. From the engine power to the total weight through to the fabric used for covering the bucket seats – every last detail is true to the original.
“Only the paintwork”, comments a contemporary witness of the first racing transporter, “is a touch too blue”. After all, those restoring the transporter only had black-and-white photos at their disposal when reconstructing the original colour.
By Jan Baedeker - editor@classicdriver.com
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Technical data :
Data and facts
Engine: water-cooled series six cylinder with upper cam shaft, bosch fuel injection.
Drilling x stroke: 85 x 88 mm.
Capacity: 2,996 cm3. Performance: 141 KW (192 HP) with 5.500/min.
Power transmission: four gear.
Length/width/height: 6.750/2.000/1.750 mm. Unloaded weight: 2,100 kg.
Maximum speed: 165 km/h.
Other: Additionally to the four drum brakes with pneumatic brake booster one ensures between drive shaft and Differenzial positioned disc brake for good delay values of the truck.
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