Monday 23rd November 2009

Silver Arrows Celebrate 75 Years Of Trucking

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

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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.

[silly chap]

very cool looking.

wonderful.

[posterboy]

Very nice

[Staffy1984]

Sweet, want one + the car on the flatbed

[sidaorb]

I remember being shown the Blue Wonder by my father when I was a kid, thought it was awesome, then he pulled a 1/32 scale balsa wood one out that he had made for using on scalex track.

[kambites]

Lovely looking thing. I'd never realised it had the 300SL's engine though.

[Puk]

I like to see old bits of history preserved or reconstructed !

[chevronb37]

A most fascinating machine; designed to carry vehicles and parts at 100mph across Europe. Such a shame that the original was destroyed, but typical of M-B's superb attitude towards its heritage that they've recreated it so beautifully.

[Arun_D]

Name of the silver arrow on the back of the truck, please? (I know I should know this!)

Edited by Arun_D on Monday 23 November 12:48

[Mafioso]

The article said:

The - which was already equipped with direct petrol injection - was taken from the 300 SL sportscar...

Seriously, PistonHeads needs a proof reader.

[BSC]

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/21075/Merctrux2...

Early "cabin forward" design.

[Chris-R]

Mafioso said:

The article said:

The - which was already equipped with direct petrol injection - was taken from the 300 SL sportscar...

Seriously, PistonHeads needs a proof reader.

But there are loads of you!

(And this way we still have budget for an office Xmas party...)

[jbmotorsport]

The MB "Renntransporter" recreation was not build by MB.It was built for MB at a company called "MIKA" near Bremen/Germany.Kind regards,Juergen Brodesser -JB-Motorsport

[mdw]

Its well worth going around the MB museum in Stuttgart where this is on display with loads of other stuff. Didnt cost a lot to go round and loads to see close up. Well worth it. Stuttgart main shopping street is 15 mins tram ride away if your other half isnt in to cars etc

[Belfast Boy]

I loved the blue wonder flat beds dont come any cooler than that!

[LukeBird]

I never thought I'd ever say it, but that is a cool truck!
Didn't realise it was 300SL engined either...

[forzaminardi]

Now I see where Peugeot got the inspiration for their front overhangs...

[gruffgriff]

Arun_D said:

Name of the silver arrow on the back of the truck, please? (I know I should know this!)

Edited by Arun_D on Monday 23 November 12:48

An utterly gloroius W196

Maybe myth but I remember reading (probably here, so must be true) there might be two Blue Wonders? As far as I recall, the story goes that M-B built one for a `special` customer who then didn`t pay, so the factory retained it so there would be one in the museum whilst the other could make public appearances at shows.

[mark3man]

Amazing that Uhlenhaut was allowed to scrap it. You'd have thought MB management would have known better.

[Family Guy]

I remember seeing pictures of the 'blue wonder' when i was a kid. I thought it looked awesome then, and think it still does now. Good to see MB brought it back to life.

[mp3manager]

Messerschmitt's are st to drive and I swear the kraut's are getting their own back for the war, with the telligent gear-shift. If you shift too quick or do something it doesn't like, you get this gawd-awful gatling gun noise to chastise you.