1929 Mercedes-Benz Model S

The depression in Germany following World War I necessitated a merger between Daimler and Benz, a process that began in 1925 and was formally consummated on June 26, 1926. Following in its wake, the two companies' competition endeavors ended as their manufacturing, product lines, and management were integrated and rationalized. As the post-war recession faded, ushering in an era of prosperity and a new social freedom, performance development resumed in earnest. Mercedes tasked engineers Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, Hans Nibel, and Fritz Nallinger to create a powerful, vibrant, high-performance luxury automobile that would outclass its peers.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz Type S was a sports car for the exclusive few who prized quality and performance. It was the result of engineering expertise and motorsports pedigree of the two companies and the brainchild of technical director Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. Compared to the previous models, the new S-Type was lighter, lower, and more powerful. In total, just 124 examples of the Type S were built, and 114 of the Type SS.

Fitted with a potent engine, the engineers designed a chassis that could withstand the strain. The team designed a 'unit' engine and transmission with rigid mounts, reinforced with cross bracing and a jointed torque tube drive to the back axle. Thus, the powerplant contributed its own rigidity to the chassis structure.

The transmission was a four-speed manual unit with a multi-plate dry disc clutch and a gear lever initially residing to the driver's right, directly outside the door. Later examples had the gear lever repositioned to a more conventional location in the middle of the floor to the driver's left.

The Type S rested on a 148-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 200.2 inches, a width of 70 inches, and a height of 77 inches. Specifications varied as these vehicles wore custom coachwork. The suspension used rigid beam axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs, and braking was via four-wheel mechanical drums operated using a cable linkage.

The six-cylinder engine displaced 6,789cc and had a single overhead camshaft, large valves, a modestly increased compression ratio, dual carburetors, and a Roots-type supercharger that engaged when the throttle was fully depressed, delivering 7-psi boost. Rated 26/120/180 horsepower (and the vehicle was alternatively known as the Mercedes-Benz 24/100/140 PS), the numbers denote the engine's taxable, naturally aspirated, and supercharged horsepower ratings. Only the single overhead camshaft and six cylinders were borrowed from the previous K.

The Mercedes-Benz Type S was clothed with coachwork from Sindelfingen and Europe's finest coachbuilders. Body styles included a landaulet, torpedo-bodied 'Tourenwagen', a Limousine, and a four-door cabriolet. Wearing a variety of coachwork and styles, and featuring the supercharged powerplant, the S-Type was a grand touring car of unrivaled performance and prestige, elevating the Mercedes-Benz name to the world stage.

Mercedes debuted the cars at the opening meeting of the Nurburgring on June 19, 1927, where Caracciola earned a class win (another Type S came in 2nd), the first of many laurels bestowed on the model. A month later, at the German Grand Prix, the Type S finished 1,2 and 3. In America, Ralph de Palma drove an 'S' to victory in the 15 and 30-mile races at Atlantic City, averaging 80mph. In 1927 alone, the Type 'S' was responsible for 27 victories, breaking 10 records at the same time.

Produced through 1928, the Mercedes-Benz Typ S was proclaimed as the 'Last World in Motorcar Design' and was the ultimate supercar of its era.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2023