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 Dan Vaughan

Tourer

Designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built from 1927 to 1928, the Mercedes-Benz S was proclaimed the 'Last Word in Motorcar Design.' With a low chassis and an engine of 6.8-liters, it was the ultimate supercar of its era, driven by Barney Oldfield and Harold Vanderbilt among others. This S Tourer was originally owned by the entertainer Al Jolson and later by designer Brooks Stevens.

Cabriolet by Erdmann & Rossi

This car debuted on the Erdmann & Rossi stand at the International Automobile Exhibition in Berlin in 1928 and was then delivered to New York and sold to a Dr. Gustav Tieck. The 4-seater body is the only known Erdmann & Rossi cabriolet coachwork on any Mercedes-Benz Type S or SS. The interior features Connolly beige leather, a mahogany dashboard and walnut details.

Tourer by Gangloff
Chassis number: 35979

One of the relatively few 680 S bodied outside of Germany, this car was ordered in April 1929 by Hermann Schreiber of Grenchen, Switzerland, and fitted with coachwork by the respected Alsatian workshops of Gangloff. The car was sent to the Copenhagen Motor Show where it was inspected by Prince Axel of Denmark, President of the Royal Danish Automobile Club, and evaluated as the most beautiful automobile of the exhibition. It remained in Switzerland until 1959, when it was acquired by the American Mercedes-Benz connoisseur, H.C. Dumville of Detroit, and brought to the United States. Mr. Dumville and his family enthusiastically enjoyed the Mercedes for 47 years and two generations. It was then acquired by the noted supercharged Mercedes-Benz specialist Markus Kern, from whom it was purchased by Robert Kudela in 2018. A full restoration was undertaken between 2007 and 2020.

Ferdinand Porsche designed the S-Type for Mercedes-Benz in 1927. The racer was constructed using pre-existing road version Mercedes vehicles, mainly the 400 and 630 models. The names of these vehicles came from their displacement size in liters. For example, the 400 had a four-liter engine while the 630 had a 6.3-liter engine, both were equipped a supercharger and six-cylinders. The engine was one of the most appealing attributes of these vehicles. The drawbacks that robbed the vehicles of performance were its size, weight, and basic suspension system. A cushy suspension and large size were ideal for luxury vehicles that carried the elite in society, but at the track, the vehicles were in need of more performance characteristics. An attempt was made to enhance the sporty nature of the 630 by shortening the wheelbase, which brought about the 'short' (Kurz) version. This drastically improved the vehicle's sporty appeal but more was needed to enhance the handling. Mercedes answer to this problem was the S-Type version which saw the chassis lowered and the engine moved back. This improved the vehicle's balance. To improve its performance, the engine capacity was enlarged to 6.8 liters. Thus, the 680 S was born.

The Nurburgring 1000 km race debuted in 1927. The track is challenging with it 172 turns and 25.6 km length. The track tests both the driver and the vehicle in all scenarios such as power, braking, and cornering. At the first Nurburgring race, it was the 680 S that emerged victoriously, a true testament to the vehicle's capabilities.

Future versions of the S-Type followed such as the 700 and 710 SS which saw horsepower ratings in the 225 range. Most were considered road-going cars but there was little to distinguish a car that was meant for the track and one that was meant for the road. Obviously, the vehicles fitted with luxurious coachwork never saw any track time but the roadsters, speedsters, and coupes (for example) could be used for dual purposes.

by Dan Vaughan