Tag Archives: Rennwagen

Aero Engined Rennwagen – Mercedes 20.1

Confusingly in 1913 there was a French Grand Prix run at Amiens where Mercedes were absent and a Grand Prix de France run at Le Mans where the Mercedes cars finished in 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th places.

Mercedes 20.1, VSCC, Loton Park,

To the best of my knowledge today’s featured car listed in event programmes as a Daimler Mercedes Rennwagen GP was not one of the 1913 Grand Prix de France team cars.

Mercedes 20.1, David Biggins, Chateau Impney

David Biggins’s car is shown in the same programmes to have been built in 1913 and I believe the 7,247 cc / 442 cui motor dates from 1914.

Mercedes 20.1, David Biggins, VSCC, Prescott

The six cylinder DF80 was originally designed for aircraft applications, but Paul Daimler had the idea of turning the engine back to front and installing it in the 28/95 model first seen in 1914.

Mercedes 20.1, David Biggins, VSCC, Loton Park,

After the 1914-18 hostilities Max Sailer won the 1921 Targa Florio with a 28/95 a model which remained in production until 1924.

Mercedes 20.1, VSCC, Loton Park,

If one enters the registration number LL4535 into this linked website one discovers that the car is officially registered a Mercedes 20.1.

Mercedes 20.1, David Biggins, VSCC, Loton Park,

Using the registration number and Mercedes 20.1 manufacturer name one discovers from the DVLA Vehicle Check site that the car or some part there of was first registered in the UK on 19th January 1921.

Mercedes 20.1, VSCC, Loton Park,

The detail shots of this car were taken at Loton Park while the most recent shot with David Biggins at the wheel was taken at Chateau Impney with the remainder taken at Prescott.

Thanks for joining me on this “Aero Engined Rennwagen” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a mid range Citroën. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Zeppelin Airship Power – Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen

Today’s featured 1920 Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen like last weeks featured Brutus is run and operated by the Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Maybach’s first car built in 1919 is said to have used a proprietary chassis, most likely from Daimler considering that Wilhelm Maybach was not only an almost life long friend of Gottlieb Daimler, but also his former assistant.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

If the 1920 date for today’s featured vehicle is correct then the this car was built before Maybach ever showed a vehicle in public, since that did not occur until the Maybach W3 appeared at the Berlin Show in 1921.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

My suspicion is that like Brutus, the Napier Bentley, the GN JAP and numerous other Curtiss engined specials, the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen is another creation made from an assortment of vintage parts.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The 6 cylinder engine for the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen is said to have been built for use in Zeppelin’s, Maybach’s Luftfahrzeug Motoren GmbH was founded as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH in order to build motors for airships in 1909.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The engine size is quoted as 23 litres which is the same as the Maybach Mb IVa
motors built from 1916 to 1918 used to power the Zeppelin airships LZ 105 to 114.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

In theory the Maybach Mb IVa could produce 300 hp at sea level but because the engine was designed for maximum power at high altitude the motor had to be restrained to producing just 245hp at sea level in order to enhance it’s longevity, this is still enough to easily propel the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen seen in these photographs at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power to 100 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Zeppelin Airship Power” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at some of the competitors vehicles at the recent Great Western Sprint at Castle Combe. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Quick Transport and Transporter – Mercedes Benz Rennwagen Schnelltransporter and 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

In 1954 the Mercedes Benz Rennabteilng returned to Grand Prix racing and equiped themselves with a special transporter that was capable of 105 mph.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR  Uhlenhaut Coupé

Most racing car transporters at the time were woefully underpowered and would have struggled to reach 60 mph.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR  Uhlenhaut Coupé

This is a recreation of the original Schnell Tranporter fitted with the correct type 200 hp 3 litre / 183 cui straight six motor as found in the 300 SL Gullwing Coupés.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR  Uhlenhaut Coupé

Mounting the cab ahead of the motor meant the frontal area of the vehicle was reduced, which aided top speed.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR  Uhlenhaut Coupé

Some of the features of the under chassis design would not look out of place on a 21st century Le Mans Prototype (LMP) racing car.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR  Uhlenhaut Coupé

I have not seen any contemporary evidence showing that Mercedes Benz advertised the original vehicles top speed on the rear wings / fenders.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

Sitting on the back of the Rennwagen Schnell Transporter at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed was a Gullwing Mercedes Benz, but this is not a regular 300 SL Gullwing.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

Beneath the 300 SL Gullwing bodywork sits a 1955 300 SLR Roadster chassis complete with competition spec 3 litre fuel injected 8 cylinder motor in place of usual 300 SL six cylinder motor.

Mercedes Benz, Rennwagen Schnelltransporter, 300 SLR  Uhlenhaut Coupé

Known as the Uhlenhaut Coupé this was a vehicle devised by Rudolf Uhlenhaut as a 1956 racing prototype. However after Mercedes Benz withdrew from racing activities in Europe at the end of 1955 one of the two Uhlenhaut Coupés was fitted with a silencer the size of a suit case in order not to breach the peace and used by Rudolf as his daily driver.

Thanks for joining me on this “Quick Transport and Transporter” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a classic DeSoto. Don’t forget to come back now !

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