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1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 Rekordwagen
Specs
- Engine: Twin-supercharged DOHC 2.96L V12
- Horsepower: 468 bhp @ 7,800 RPM
- Torque: 50 mkg @ 5,000 RPM
- Transmission: 5-speed manual
- Drivetrain: RWD
- 0-60: N/A
- Top speed: Approx. 400 km/h
Background
After Bernd Rosemeyer died and Auto Union terminated their record runs in 1938, Mercedes-Benz turned to the Class D ruleset, which is for vehicles with engine displacements of 2 to 3 liters, for the next year’s record runs.
The car to be used for the Class D standing kilometer and mile speed record attempts is a W154, chassis serial no. 11, which was noted for its particularly lightweight construction and was built for hillclimbs, not Grand Prix racing. Chassis no. 11 was rebodied for aerodynamics, and is fitted with the M154, a 60-degree DOHC V12 with twin Roots superchargers and a float carburetor making 468 horsepower @ 7,800 RPM.
Record runs with the standing start required the lowest possible weight with optimal traction, so the team that prepared the W154 Rekordwagen, under the direction of Max Sailer, took measures to reduce the weight. For instance, they removed the front brakes and slimmed down the rear brakes. The oil and water coolers and the saddle tank located between the rear end of the engine and the cockpit were also omitted due to being unnecessary for the short distance 1 kilometer and 1 mile speed record runs.
To ensure that the engine’s power is optimally transferred to the road from the start, a differential with 100% locking effect was fitted to the rear axle, but it proved impossible to use the same gear ratios for both the kilometer and mile distances in order to achieve the most ideal times and thus, speeds. Changing the gearbox and final drive on site would have taken too much time, so the team fitted the car with 22-inch diameter wheels for the standing mile.
In February 1939, the car was placed in the capable hands of Rudolf Caracciola, who set new speed records in Class D for both the standing kilometer and standing mile, at 175.097 km/h and 204.587 km/h, respectively. For the flying start, he set speed records of 398.2 km/h and 399.6 km/h for the kilometer and mile, respectively. A week later, Caracciola beat his previous standing start kilometer record with a speed of 177.427 km/h.
No one at the time suspected that it would be the last speed record run set by a Mercedes-Benz for almost forty years.
Engine swap suggestions
- 3.0L I8 - SC (Maserati 8CTF)
- 7.1L I6 - SC (Mercedes-Benz SSK)
- 3.0L V12 - SC (Auto Union Type D)
EDIT: Added in a couple of engine swap suggestions
7 Likes
In case anybody wanted to know what happened to Chassis No. 11 after the record runs it made, it was since reconfigured back into a Grand Prix racer and is kept in Mercedes-Benz’s possession. The aerodynamic fairings were probably scrapped. If they decide to put this car into the game or in a future FH title, they might have to use the old photos as references for modeling the Rekordwagen from scratch.
A 1939 car that can go 400km/h how?
1 Like
That car was built to set land speed records under the Class D ruleset. Plus, land speed record cars in general are built to attain high top speeds for setting records.
That, and even then, the Germans are capable of building some real mean machines.
Thats still crazy for a vehicle of this time
Indeed.
a lack of safety does wonders
this one did 300mph in 1935
this one did 400mph in 1938
both built buy Reid Railton, the man behind the “Napier-Railton” we have in game already.
1 Like
You mean km/h
no, that last one did 400mph over a single pass, averaging out to around 396mph each way
That definitely wasnt mph it was km/h
640km/h thats even crazier!
Don’t forget about the Irving-Napier Special, better known as Golden Arrow. That thing did 231.45 mph in 1929. Not as fast as later land speed records, but still extremely fast for the time.
I am not that much impressed by the 372,46km/h it did
But, the Golden Arrow does look awesome, don’t it?
Yes
Can you imagine jumping off a Danger Sign ramp with the W154 Rekordwagen or any of those old-school LSR cars? It’d be quite a hoot!
Say, if they do put the W154 Rekordwagen into FH5 or in a future title in the series, what colors do you think it would look awesome in, asides from silver?
Gold