Mercedes-Benz 150H
Encyclopedia
The Mercedes-Benz 150H was a prototype sports racing automobile
built in Germany
in the 1930s.
Conceived by Hans Nibel, chief engineer of Mercedes-Benz
, the 150H was inspired by Edmund Rumpler
's Tropfen-Auto. It followed on the Rumpler
-chassis Tropfenwagen racers, which ran between 1923 and 1926, and was based on the backbone chassis of earlier 130H
.
Created in 1934 by Nibel and chassis engineer Max Wagner. the 150H was a two-seat sports roadster. It featured transverse leaf spring
front and coil
-sprung swing axle
rear suspension
. A water-cooled 1498 cc OHC
four-cylinder engine, producing 55 hp, was mounted in back, hence the "H", from German heck (rear). The radiator was behind that, above the transaxle
, with a squirrel-cage blower (reminiscent of the VW Type 1
) feeding both radiator and carburetor
. The roadster featured disc wheels, DuVal
-style windshield, side-mounted spare (fastened with straps), and three headlights, the third mounted at the lip of the hood above the bumper.
Six 150Hs were built as coupes, "with low-drag lines that eerily presaged the VW Beetle". They were raced in several rally
s, demonstrating much better handling than the 130H, before Nibel and Wagner turned to Grand Prix
cars. Only twenty were produced before the 150H was abandoned in 1936.
The last remaining 150 Sport Roadster has been fully restored mechanically by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA
in Irvine, California in 2010.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
built in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the 1930s.
Conceived by Hans Nibel, chief engineer of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, the 150H was inspired by Edmund Rumpler
Edmund Rumpler
Edmund Rumpler was an Austrian automobile and aircraft designer.Born in Vienna, then Austro-Hungarian Empire , he worked mainly in Germany.Lyons 1988, p.73 An automotive engineer by training, he collaborated with Hans Ledwinka on the first Nesseldorf , the Präsident, in 1897.By age 30, in 1902, he...
's Tropfen-Auto. It followed on the Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
-chassis Tropfenwagen racers, which ran between 1923 and 1926, and was based on the backbone chassis of earlier 130H
Mercedes-Benz 130H
The Mercedes-Benz 130H was a low-production automobile built in Germany in the 1930s.Conceived by Hans Nibel, chief engineer of Mercedes Benz, the 130H was inspired by Edmund Rumpler's Tropfen-Auto...
.
Created in 1934 by Nibel and chassis engineer Max Wagner. the 150H was a two-seat sports roadster. It featured transverse leaf spring
Leaf spring
Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles...
front and coil
Coil spring
A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
-sprung swing axle
Swing axle
A swing axle is a simple type of independent suspension first used in early aircraft , such as the Sopwith and Fokker, usually with rubber bungee and no damping....
rear suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
. A water-cooled 1498 cc OHC
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
four-cylinder engine, producing 55 hp, was mounted in back, hence the "H", from German heck (rear). The radiator was behind that, above the transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
, with a squirrel-cage blower (reminiscent of the VW Type 1
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
) feeding both radiator and carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
. The roadster featured disc wheels, DuVal
Duval
Duval is a surname, literally translating from French to English as 'of the valley', and may refer to:*Alexandre-Vincent Pineux Duval*Barry E. DuVal*Burr H. Duval , son of William Pope, brother of John C...
-style windshield, side-mounted spare (fastened with straps), and three headlights, the third mounted at the lip of the hood above the bumper.
Six 150Hs were built as coupes, "with low-drag lines that eerily presaged the VW Beetle". They were raced in several rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
s, demonstrating much better handling than the 130H, before Nibel and Wagner turned to Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
cars. Only twenty were produced before the 150H was abandoned in 1936.
The last remaining 150 Sport Roadster has been fully restored mechanically by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center is the official Mercedes-Benz department for Mercedes-Benz classic car owners and enthusiasts. It was first opened on May 18, 1993 in Fellbach, just outside of Stuttgart...
in Irvine, California in 2010.