Mercedes-Benz 770
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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 Goering.
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[edit] Series I - W07 (1930-1938)
The 770 was introduced with the internal code W07 in 1930. [1] These cars were mainly used by governments as state vehicles[2].
The W07 version of the 770 was powered by an inline eight cylinder engine of 7655 cc (467 cu in) capacity with overhead valves and aluminium pistons.[1][2][3] This engine produced 150 brake horsepower (110 kW) at 2800 rpm without supercharging.[1][3] An optional Roots type supercharger, which was engaged at full throttle, would raise the output to 200 brake horsepower (150 kW) at 2800 rpm, which could propel the car to 160 km/h (100 mph).[1][2] The transmission had four forward ratios, of which third was direct and fourth was an overdrive.[3]
The W07 had a contemporary boxed chassis suspended by semi-elliptic leaf springs onto beam axles front and rear.[2] Dimensions would vary with coachwork, but the chassis had a wheelbase of 3,750 mm (147.6 in) and a front track equal to the rear track of 1,500 mm (59.1 in).[1]
117 W07-series cars were built.[2]
[edit] Series II - W150 (1938-1943)
The 770 was substantially revised in 1938, resulting in the new internal designation of W150.[4] The all-new chassis was made with oval section tubes and was suspended from coil springs all around, with independent suspension at front and a de Dion axle at the rear.[2]
The engine had the same basic architecture as that of the W07, but it had been tuned to produce 155 brake horsepower (116 kW) at 3000 rpm without supercharging and 230 brake horsepower (170 kW) at 3200 rpm with.[4] The transmission now had five forward ratios with a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth.[2][4]
88 W150-series cars were built before production ended in 1943.[2][4]
[edit] Gustaf Mannerheim's 770K
Of note in popular culture is the 770K originally owned by Marshal of Finland Gustav Mannerheim. Mannerheim's 770K 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[citation needed]
"Hitler's limousine" was referred to in The Simpsons episode Bart Carny and in the motion picture Rat Race.
A 770 had been displayed at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Oldtimers Gallery - Mercedes-Benz 770 W07(K) Grosser.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Robson, G. The World's Most Powerful Cars p. 100-101 Quintet Publishing Ltd. 1990 ISBN 1-85076-254-6
- ^ a b c Ruiz, M. The History of the Automobile p.57 Gallery Books, W.H. Smith Publishers, Inc. 1988 ISBN 0-8317-6550-X
- ^ a b c d Oldtimers Gallery - Mercedes-Benz 770 W150 Grosser.
- ^ Mannerheim's Mercedes Benz 770 F-Cabriolet
- ^ This Day In History: January 6
