Three versions of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL at a glance: on the right, the Mercedes-Benz 1952 300 SL (W 194 series), next to it the racing car prototype (chassis number W 194 011) developed for the 1953 racing season (this prototype never raced), finally the 1954 series-production car (W 198).

60 years of the SL
Daimler Reitwagen: forerunner of the motorbike
Mercedes-Benz SS-Type once owned by the Maharaja of Kashmir

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz Classic will be showing off a number of its finest vehicles at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the USA. Held on the 18th fairway of California’s Pebble Beach Golf Links, the event is considered the world’s most prestigious exhibition of historical motor cars. For the Mercedes-Benz brand, the focus is on the 60th birthday of the 300 SL racing car (model series W 194) from 1952. Other vintage vehicles from the Stuttgart-based company’s private collection will be on show in the ‘Cars of the Maharajas’ and ‘German Motorcycles’ features.

In 2012, Mercedes-Benz Classic is celebrating the 60th birthday of the 300 SL racing car (W 194) at Pebble Beach. These are the cars whose memorable victories laid the foundations for Mercedes-Benz’s post-war motor sports renaissance in 1952 and which gave rise to the SL legend. An original vehicle will be representing this triumphant era at the Concours d’Elegance – the oldest SL still in existence, the W 194, chassis number 0002. Mercedes-Benz Classic will also be bringing the prototype SL bearing chassis number 0011 to Pebble Beach. Developed for the 1953 racing season, this car showed the potential for the racing car’s future development.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194) with chassis number 2 and the SL of the R 231 series, presented in 2012.

Early 300SLs

In 2012, Mercedes-Benz Classic is celebrating the 60th birthday of the 300 SL racing car (W 194) at Pebble Beach. These are the cars whose memorable victories laid the foundations for Mercedes-Benz’s post-war motor sports renaissance in 1952 and which gave rise to the SL legend. An original vehicle will be representing this triumphant era at the Concours d’Elegance – the oldest SL still in existence, the W 194, chassis number 0002. Mercedes-Benz Classic will also be bringing the prototype SL bearing chassis number 0011 to Pebble Beach. Developed for the 1953 racing season, this car showed the potential for the racing car’s future development.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194 series) with chassis number W 194 011. Racing prototype developed for the 1953 racing season. However, this prototype never raced. Here compared with a 1952 300 SL (W 194 series) racing car.

Daimler Reitwagen, 1885

In 1885 Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach made a huge step forward in the development of the four-stroke engine as a means of propulsion for vehicles. The automotive pioneers took Nikolaus August Otto’s invention and made it much faster, whilst also greatly reducing its size and weight. It was then necessary to test the engine – nicknamed the grandfather clock because of its distinctive upright cylinder – in a vehicle. A two-wheeler with a wooden frame and wooden wheels was chosen for the job.
This was the Daimler Reitwagen, powered by a one-cylinder 264 cc engine with an output of 0.5 bhp (0.37 kW) at 600 rpm. Power was transmitted by a leather belt, which when stationary could be set on two differently sized pulleys – a simple form of two-speed gearshift.
On 29 August 1885 Daimler had his Reitwagen patented as a ‘Gas or Petroleum Power Machine’ (DRP 36423). In November of the same year, Daimler’s younger son Adolf took the vehicle on its maiden journey from Cannstatt to Untertürkheim, reaching speeds of up to 12 km/h.

Replica of the riding car in front of the Gottlieb Daimler Memorial in Bad Cannstatt. In 1885, the riding car was built in this workshop as a test unit to prove the suitability of Gotllieb Daimler's and Wilhelm Maybach's gas or petroleum engine for everyday use. The riding car is the world's first motorbike. Gottlieb Daimler applied for the patent on 29 August 1885.

Mercedes-Benz Type SS, 1928 to 1934

In 1928, following the success of the S-Type supercharged sports tourer from 1927, Mercedes-Benz launched the SS-Type (Super-Sport). The main difference from the 1927 car was the new M 06 engine, which was also used in the subsequent SSK and SSKL. This 7.1 litre engine initially produced an output of 140 bhp (103 kW) without a supercharger (160 bhp /118 kW from 1930 onwards) and 200 bhp (147 kW) at 3300 rpm with supercharger engaged.

The SS-Type proved hugely successful on the race track. Its standout successes for Mercedes-Benz include the three-fold victory at the German Grand Prix on 15 July 1928 at the Nürburgring.

Mercedes-Benz Classic will display this splendid SS-Type once owned by the Maharaja of Kashmir at the 2012 Pebble Beach concours.

Photography and Text from Daimler Media.

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