Mercedes Benz W25 1934
How it all began....
The history of the Development of the Mercedes Benz Silver Arrow. One killogramm overwight was what gave the decisive impulse.
We are at the 3rd of June 1934, in the Eifel Race at the Nurburgring, Germany.
On the evening before the race the acceptance inspections took place for the newly introduced 750kg formula for the Mercedes Benz racing car W 25.
Whilst weighting the white painted racing car the indicator showed 751kgs, one kilogramm over the limit. That would have meant a prohibition for the start!
Good advice was expensive, but the Mercedes Team found a genial solution. In sweat pouring activity all the paintwork was grinded off overnight. There remained the shooting star in its shining aluminium silver colour.
What was even more important, due to the removal of the painwork, the starting weight of 740kg was precisely achieved.
Due to the silver aluminium colour the press named the Mercedes racers henceforth "Silver Arrows", a myth that has persisted until today was born.
Besides the winner of the race of the 3rd June 1934, Manfred von Brauchitsch, won a conincing success for the overnight transformation to
the silver appearance of the W 25.
A myth appears... The first silver arrow takes the curves
The decision to return to the Grand Prix racing sport was taken by Daimler-Benz in march 1933. A completely new racing car had to be developed, which would comply with the new regulations for the racing formula limiting the weight of the vehicle to 750 kgs.
With the W25A, Mercedes benz could present a Monoposto to the public, ready for racing in 1934. It was due to initiate the famous Silver Arrow era.
A sleek and aerodynamically formed vehicle appeard with an elongated head support and an exhaust manifold along the length of the cars body.
A turbo charged, in line 8 cylinder motor with initially 354 hp lent the shooting star sufficient power and an enormous acceleration capacity in order to keep the other contestants, Auto Union, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti and Maserati, in check. The deafening roar of the ehaust was veribly frightening and in combination with the whine of the Roots compressor it became the recognisable sign of the brand name.
At the first race for the W25A at the Nurburgring in Jube 1934 Manfed von Brauchitsch could spontaneously be celebrated as the winner of
the Eifel Race.. Further victories followed with luigi Fagioli at the Acerbo Cup in Pescara and at the Grand Prix of Spain as well as with Rudolf Caracciola in the Grand Prix at Monza in Italy.
Of the 8 Grand Prix races organised in the first season, 4 were won and in three the second place could be achieved.
With a further developed vehicle, the W25 A (430 hp), nine of the eleven races participated in were achieved, simultaneously Rudolf Caracciola wonthe European Masters title in the W25 B.
At the end of 1936 the already as a variation type W25 C competing racer was replaced by the W125.
Technical Data
- 8 Cylinder in line Motor
- 4 valve per cylinder, regulated by 2 overlying camshaft
- Roots Compressor
- Cylinder bore/stroke: 78/88 mm
- Cylinder capacity: 3360 ccm
- Power 354 hp at 5800 prm (Until 1936 it was raised to 435 hp at 5800 rpm 4.7 liter)
- Speed: up to 290 km/h
- Single wheel suspension in front
- Floating rear axle with four gear transmission block
- Wheelbase: 2717(2464) mm
- Wheel track front/rear: 1473/1412 mm
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