Silver Arrows Celebrate 75 Years Of Trucking

Mercedes-Benz shows off a trio of trick racing car transporters

By Chris-R / Monday, 23 November 2009 / Loading comments

The Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, having first blazed to victory on the world's racetracks back in 1934. But races could not be run without racing car carriers, says M-B, which has just organised a 'family reunion' photoshoot focused around the fabulous Blue Wonder from 1955.

The three generations meeting for the family reunion were the present day Actros transporter, the Lo 2750 from the 1930s and the 300 S based Blue Wonder.

According to M-B, its prototype department developed the Blue Wonder specifically for transporting especially urgent loads. The only stipulations were that the vehicle should be fast and able to transport a Grand Prix racing car or a racing sports car.

The result is a one-of-a-kind vehicle that is as fascinating today as when it was built. The platform consists of the lengthened tubular frame of the Mercedes-Benz 300 S luxury coupe. The engine - which was already equipped with direct petrol injection - was taken from the 300 SL sportscar, while the body components such as the doors, wings and some of the interior appointments are from the Mercedes-Benz 180 standard saloon.

After Mercedes-Benz withdrew from motor sports at the end of 1955, the racing car carrier initially served as an exhibition vehicle in the USA, followed by ten years of service for Mercedes-Benz test drives. Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who managed the motor sports department during the racing car carriers' 'active' period and later served on the Board of Management, had the one-of-a-kind vehicle scrapped in 1967.

Decades later, Mercedes-Benz rebuilt the spectacular racing car carrier on the basis of old photographs.