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 750kg 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 is born... the first Silver Arrow on the race track.
Mercedes Benz W25 1934
To stage a comeback in Grand Prix racing, Mercedes Benz had to build a completely new car without exceeding the new maximum weight limit of 750 kg. They created a raffish and, for its time, aerodynamic vehicle. The car was equipped with a cantilevered headrest and a sidewise installed exhaust pipe system. With all this, the W25 was Born.
A supercharged 8 cylinder inline engine with an output of 354 hp was the reason why this car had more than enough power and an unbelievable accelaration that put to shame all its competitors such as Auto Union, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, and Maserati.
The W25 made its debut at the Nurburgring on June 3rd 1934. With Manfred von Brauchitsch at the wheels, it became the winner of the first race, namely Eifel race.
That day entered into racing history as the birthday of the Silver Arrows. According to many publications, the W25 was originally painted in white. But the car was one kilogram too heavy. Unless its weight was reduced to 750 kg or less, there would be no racing for the W25. So the Mercedes team was looking for ways of shedding its weight and getting the car cleared for the start line. They eventually came up with the idea of scrpaing the paint. As a result, the car appeared in its aluminium body of a shiny silver. With the car allowed to start, a great victory and a legend were born!
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
* Till 1936 up to 435 hp at 5800 rpm (4,7 liter)
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