Mercedes-Benz 770
Encyclopedia
The Mercedes-Benz 770, also known as the Großer Mercedes (large Mercedes) was a luxury automobile built by Mercedes-Benz
from 1930 to 1943. It is probably best known from archival footage of high-ranking Nazi officials before and during World War II
, including Adolf Hitler
and Hermann Göring
.
The W07 version of the 770 was powered by an inline eight cylinder engine
of 7655 cc capacity with overhead valve
s and aluminium piston
s. This engine produced 150 bhp at 2800 rpm without supercharging
. An optional Roots type supercharger
, which was engaged at full throttle, would raise the output to 200 bhp at 2800 rpm, which could propel the car to 160 km/h (99.4 mph). The transmission
had four forward ratios, of which third was direct and fourth was an overdrive.
The W07 had a contemporary boxed chassis
suspended
by semi-elliptic leaf spring
s onto beam axle
s front and rear. Dimensions would vary with coachwork, but the chassis had a wheelbase
of 3750 mm (147.6 in) and a front track equal to the rear track of 1500 mm (59.1 in).
117 W07-series cars were built.
at front and a de Dion axle
at the rear.
The engine had the same basic architecture as that of the W07, but it had been tuned to produce 155 bhp at 3000 rpm without supercharging and 230 bhp at 3200 rpm with. The transmission now had five forward ratios with a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth.
In 1938 the Mercedes 770 is thought to have been the most expensive German passenger car offered for sale up to that time, though it appeared on no price list: the price was published merely as "auf Anfrage" ([available] by request).
88 W150-series cars were built before chassis production ended in 1943. The last cars were actually bodied and delivered in March 1944.
Gustav Mannerheim
was sold to an American collector after World War II. It was featured in the motion picture The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
as Hitler's parade car.
In 1973, Mannerheim's 770K, erroneously alleged to have been the parade limousine of Adolf Hitler
, was sold at auction for $153,000, the most money ever paid for a car at auction
at that time. This broke the previous record price for an antique car, which was $90,000 for Greta Garbo
's Duesenberg
in the fall of 1972. Mannerheim's car passed that amount within its first minute on the auction block. It was sold to Earl Clark, a businessman from Lancaster, Pa, who wanted the car for a park called Dutch Wonderland
. Another 770 sold at the same auction, sold for $93,000. Billy C. Tanner, an Alabama developer and George Wallace's 1964 campaign manager, bought it, but he could not secure financing to complete the transaction. Consequently, he sold his option to Don Tidwell, a mobile-home manufacturer.
As of November 2009, one of Hitler's 770Ks has allegedly been purchased for several million Euros by an unnamed Russian Billionaire.
In the Norwegian Mercedes Benz Club's magazine of June 2010 is an article on a 770 Offener Tourenwagen (W150). It was brought to Norway in 1941 by General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst
. After World War II it was used by the King of Norway. It was later sold to a buyer in the United States. The car won the prize for the best unrestored pre-war car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2003.
Two other 770s were brought to Norway during the war, one for Josef Terboven
and the other for Vidkun Quisling
.The Norsk Motorveteran magazine had a short article on one of the cars, which stated that it was displayed for sale to the public, but no one wanted to buy it despite the low price of KR 50,-. It was eventually scrapped and all that now remains of the car is parts of the bulletproof glasswork.
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...
from 1930 to 1943. It is probably best known from archival footage of high-ranking Nazi officials before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, including Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
.
Series I - W07 (1930-1938)
The 770 was introduced with the internal code W07 in 1930. These cars were mainly used by governments as state vehicles.The W07 version of the 770 was powered by an inline eight cylinder engine
Straight-8
The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
of 7655 cc capacity with overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
s and aluminium piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s. This engine produced 150 bhp at 2800 rpm without supercharging
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
. An optional Roots type supercharger
Roots type supercharger
The Roots type supercharger or Roots blower is a positive displacement lobe pump which operates by pumping fluids with a pair of meshing lobes not unlike a set of stretched gears. Fluid is trapped in pockets surrounding the lobes and carried from the intake side to the exhaust...
, which was engaged at full throttle, would raise the output to 200 bhp at 2800 rpm, which could propel the car to 160 km/h (99.4 mph). The transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
had four forward ratios, of which third was direct and fourth was an overdrive.
The W07 had a contemporary boxed chassis
Body-on-frame
Body-on-frame is an automobile construction method. Mounting a separate body to a rigid frame that supports the drivetrain was the original method of building automobiles, and its use continues to this day. The original frames were made of wood , but steel ladder frames became common in the 1930s...
suspended
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...
by semi-elliptic 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...
s onto beam axle
Beam axle
A beam axle is a suspension system, also called a solid axle, in which one set of wheels is connected laterally by a single beam or shaft...
s front and rear. Dimensions would vary with coachwork, but the chassis had a wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
of 3750 mm (147.6 in) and a front track equal to the rear track of 1500 mm (59.1 in).
117 W07-series cars were built.
Series II - W150 (1938-1943)
The 770 was substantially revised in 1938, resulting in the new internal designation of W150. The all-new chassis was made with oval section tubes and was suspended from coil springs all around, with independent suspensionIndependent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
at front and a de Dion axle
De Dion tube
A de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses a...
at the rear.
The engine had the same basic architecture as that of the W07, but it had been tuned to produce 155 bhp at 3000 rpm without supercharging and 230 bhp at 3200 rpm with. The transmission now had five forward ratios with a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth.
In 1938 the Mercedes 770 is thought to have been the most expensive German passenger car offered for sale up to that time, though it appeared on no price list: the price was published merely as "auf Anfrage" ([available] by request).
88 W150-series cars were built before chassis production ended in 1943. The last cars were actually bodied and delivered in March 1944.
Surviving 770Ks
The 770K originally owned by Marshal of FinlandMarshal of Finland
Marshal of Finland was the title awarded to the Finnish Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on his 75th birthday on June 4, 1942. The fully honorary rank was specially created for Mannerheim...
Gustav Mannerheim
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
was sold to an American collector after World War II. It was featured in the motion picture The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel is a 1951 biographical film about Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in the later stages of World War II. It stars James Mason in the title role, was directed by Henry Hathaway, and was based on the book Rommel by Brigadier Desmond Young, who served in the Indian Army in...
as Hitler's parade car.
In 1973, Mannerheim's 770K, erroneously alleged to have been the parade limousine of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, was sold at auction for $153,000, the most money ever paid for a car at auction
Most expensive cars sold in auction
This is a list of the most expensive cars sold in auto auctions through the traditional bidding process, consisting of those that attracted headline grabbing publicity, mainly for the high price their new owners have paid...
at that time. This broke the previous record price for an antique car, which was $90,000 for Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
's Duesenberg
Duesenberg
Duesenberg was an Auburn, Indiana based American luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.-History:...
in the fall of 1972. Mannerheim's car passed that amount within its first minute on the auction block. It was sold to Earl Clark, a businessman from Lancaster, Pa, who wanted the car for a park called Dutch Wonderland
Dutch Wonderland
Dutch Wonderland is a amusement park just east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, appealing primarily to families with small children. The park's theme is a "Kingdom for Kids." The entrance to the park has a real stone castle façade, which was built by Earl Clark, a potato farmer, before he opened the...
. Another 770 sold at the same auction, sold for $93,000. Billy C. Tanner, an Alabama developer and George Wallace's 1964 campaign manager, bought it, but he could not secure financing to complete the transaction. Consequently, he sold his option to Don Tidwell, a mobile-home manufacturer.
As of November 2009, one of Hitler's 770Ks has allegedly been purchased for several million Euros by an unnamed Russian Billionaire.
In the Norwegian Mercedes Benz Club's magazine of June 2010 is an article on a 770 Offener Tourenwagen (W150). It was brought to Norway in 1941 by General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst
Nikolaus von Falkenhorst
Nikolaus von Falkenhorst was a German General who planned Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Denmark and Norway in 1940...
. After World War II it was used by the King of Norway. It was later sold to a buyer in the United States. The car won the prize for the best unrestored pre-war car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2003.
Two other 770s were brought to Norway during the war, one for Josef Terboven
Josef Terboven
Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven was a Nazi leader, best known as the Reichskommissar during the German occupation of Norway.-Early life:...
and the other for Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
.The Norsk Motorveteran magazine had a short article on one of the cars, which stated that it was displayed for sale to the public, but no one wanted to buy it despite the low price of KR 50,-. It was eventually scrapped and all that now remains of the car is parts of the bulletproof glasswork.
See also
- Grosser MercedesGrosser MercedesGrosser Mercedes is an unofficial name given to two large luxury automobiles made by Mercedes-Benz:*the Mercedes-Benz 770, made from 1930 to 1943, and*the Mercedes-Benz 600, made from 1964 to 1981....
- List of Mercedes-Benz cars
- 6-wheeled W31/G4 Limousine and Staff Car (In German)
External links
- 6-wheeled W31/G4 Limousine and Staff Car