| Mercedes-Benz Type 770 | |
|---|---|
 1943 Mercedes-Benz 770 (W150) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Also called |
|
| Production |
|
| Assembly | Untertürkheim,Weimar Germany (1930–1933)/Nazi Germany (1933–1945) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Ultra-luxury carLimousine |
| Body style | 4-door, 6-seat Pullman(limousine) Touring car (6 seats) Cabriolet |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
|
| Length |
|
| Width |
|
| Height |
|
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz 630 |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz W186 (1951) (Spiritual Successor)Mercedes-Benz W100 (1963) (True Successor) |
TheMercedes-Benz 770, also known as theGroßer Mercedes (German for "Large Mercedes"), was a ultra luxury car built byMercedes-Benz from 1930 until 1944. The second model (W150) is best known from its use by high-ranking officials ofNazi Germany andtheir allies before and duringWorld War II, includingAdolf Hitler,Hermann Göring,Heinrich Himmler,Reinhard Heydrich,Ion Antonescu,Gustaf Mannerheim, andBenito Mussolini, many of which were captured in archival footage.
The 770 was introduced in 1930 as the successor to theMercedes-Benz Typ 630, with the internal code W07.[1] These high-priced cars were mainly used by governments as state vehicles.[2] Reich PresidentPaul von Hindenburg, EmperorHirohito andPope Pius XI were among the customers, and Adolf Hitler used a 770 from 1931 onwards. 117 W07-series cars were built until 1938.[2]
The W07 version of the 770 was powered by aninline eight-cylinder engine of 7,665 cc (467.7 cu in) capacity with anoverhead camshaft and aluminiumpistons.[1][2][3][4] This engine produced 150 bhp (112 kW) at 2800 rpm withoutsupercharging.[1][3][5] An optionalRoots type supercharger, which was engaged at full throttle, would raise the output to 200 bhp (149 kW) at 2800 rpm, which could propel the car to 160 km/h (99 mph).[1][2] Thetransmission had four forward ratios, of which third was direct and fourth was anoverdrive.[3][6]
The W07 had a contemporary boxedchassissuspended by semi-ellipticleaf springs ontobeam axles front and rear.[2] Dimensions would vary with coachwork, but the chassis had awheelbase of 3,750 mm (147.6 in) and a front track equal to the rear track of 1,500 mm (59.1 in).[1]
The 770 was substantially revised in 1938, resulting in the new internal designation of W150.[7] The new chassis was made with oval section tubes and was suspended from coil springs all around, withindependent suspension at front and ade Dion axle at the rear.[2] Hydraulic brakes were fitted, compared to the servo-assisted mechanical brakes of the prior series.
The engine had the same basic architecture as that of the W07, but had been tuned to produce 155 bhp (116 kW) at 3000 rpm without supercharging and 230 bhp (172 kW) at 3200 rpm with.[7] The transmission now had five forward ratios with a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth.[2][7] Top speed was around 170 km/h (106 mph). A twin-supercharged 400 hp (298 kW) model was available, able to reach a top speed of around 190 km/h (118 mph). A total of five were made.
In 1938, the huge W150 was understood to have been the most expensive German passenger car for sale up to that time,[citation needed] though it appeared on no price list: the price was published merely asauf Anfrage ("upon request").[8] Eighty-eight W150-series cars were built before chassis production ended in 1944. The last cars were bodied and delivered in March 1944.[2][7]
Some cars of this model were offered by Hitler as gifts to his allies, namely: MarshalIon Antonescu ofRomania,Benito Mussolini ofItaly,Francisco Franco ofSpain, MarshalCarl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim ofFinland andEmil Hácha of theBohemian Protectorate.[9] Marshal Antonescu's car, for instance, was bulletproof.[10]
TheCanadian War Museum inOttawa has on display one of the seven cars used by Hitler. Heavily modified with extensive armour plating – including 40 mm (1.6 in) glass all round, and 18 mm (0.71 in) steel armour plate in all metalwork surrounding the main passenger compartment, plus an additional raisable plate between driver and rear passenger compartment – it weighs 4,100 kg. This special version with the internal designation W 150 II, built from 1940 to 1943, was also equipped with 480 mm (19 in) armoured steel wheels and bullet-resistant 20-chamber tyres. The fenders were made of light metal to reduce weight; for reasons of tyre durability, the manufacturer recommended a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Further modifications allowed the secure storage of three machine pistols. The body also had additional vents to the side and atop the hood, twin hinges on the side doors, and four further air vents in the main scuttle. In preparation of the fall ofBerchtesgaden in April 1945,RSD andSS troops had loaded the car on a railway flat-car, where it was found in May 1945 by troops of theUnited States Army20th Armored Division inLaufen. Found in a damaged condition, a liberated Dutch forced-labour mechanic got the car working, advising the troops that it wasHermann Goering's state car. Repainted in US Army green with a star applied to either side, it then served as the ranking officer's staff car during the post-war occupation period of Germany. Shipped to the U.S. in late 1945, it toured the country as part of a continued effort to raisewar bonds, displayed and noted asHermann Göring's personal car. Placed in storage, in October 1956 it was entered in a US Army surplus auction atAberdeen Proving Ground, and sold to aMontreal-based businessman for $2,750. Shipped for restoration to Rumble Motors inToronto, a research book was established to restore the car as Göring would have had it during the war – for a cost of CA$5,000 – apart from leaving the bullet-damaged glass in place. In 1970 as part of a tax settlement, the car was gifted to the Canadian War Museum, again displayed there as Göring's car. In 1980, museum researcher Ludwig Kosche – born in Germany – began detailed research on the car, with assistance from Mercedes-Benz, theWest German embassy to Canada and the West German foreign service. Along with chassis, engine, paint and modification records, and discovery of part of its original number plate 1AV148697, it was confirmed as one of Hitler's cars, delivered to theReich Chancellery in Berlin on 8 July 1940.[11][12]
The 770K originally owned byField Marshal of Finland BaronGustav Mannerheim was sold to an American collector after World War II. It was featured in the 1951 motion pictureThe Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel as Hitler's parade car.[13] In 1973, Mannerheim's 770K, erroneously alleged to have been the parade limousine ofAdolf Hitler, was sold at auction for $153,000, which was themost money ever paid for a car at auction at that time.[14] This broke the previous record price for an antique car, which had been $90,000 forGreta Garbo'sDuesenberg in autumn 1972. It was sold to a businessman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who wanted the car for a park calledDutch Wonderland. Since 1984, Mannerheim's car has been privately owned.[15]
Another 770 was sold at the same 1973 auction, for $93,000. The high bidder was an Alabama developer and campaign manager forGeorge Wallace's campaign in the 1964 U.S. presidential election. However, he could not secure financing to complete the transaction and subsequently sold his option to a mobile-home manufacturer, Don Tidwell.[citation needed]
As of November 2009, one of Hitler's 770Ks was allegedly purchased for several million euros by an unnamed Russian billionaire.[16]
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 GeneralNikolaus 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 thePebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2003.[citation needed]
Two other 770s were brought to Norway during the war, one forJosef Terboven and the other forVidkun Quisling. TheNorsk Motorveteran magazine had a short article on one of the cars, which stated that it was displayed for sale to the public but apparently 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 part of the bullet-resistant glasswork.
Another car, a 1939cabriolet, made its way toCzechoslovakia where it was used as a VIP transport for the government. In 1948 the communists took over and in 1952 it was sent to theKarosa body works and given a new body and interior, so nothing would resemble its "imperialist" origin. This car is on display at theNational Technical Museum inPrague.[17]
There is a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 770 Großer at the Museu do Caramulo inPortugal. This car is armoured and was ordered by thePVDE, the Portuguese internal secret police, after the 1937 bomb attempt against the Portuguese dictatorAntónio Salazar.
A black 1938 770K, on display at theTechnisches Museum inSinsheim, Germany, was supposedly owned by the German central government office and used by Adolf Hitler during parades. The car was fitted with mine-resistant floor armour, plus thick glass and bodywork. However, as a convertible parade car, the occupants' protection was limited.[18]
There is a 1939 770K on display at theSouthward Car Museum at Paraparaumu in New Zealand. It is believed to have been intended as a gift forEdward VIII after theplanned German invasion of Britain.[citation needed]
A 1939 770K Cabriolet B has made at least one appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California. This car is a 2-door, 5-passenger convertible, making it particularly unusual since the majority of W150 cars were built as hardtop limousines or convertible limousines. It is finished in dark red with a tan leather interior.[19]
TheSpanish Royal Guard has a 770 in theRoyal Palace of El Pardo inMadrid, which was used byFrancisco Franco.[citation needed]
A 770K once owned byKing Abdullah I ofJordan is on display in theRoyal Automobile Museum there.[citation needed]
Famous owners of the Mercedes-Benz 770 have included the following people, most of them part of theAxis powers duringWorld War II.
