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Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen

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File:Mercedesw195.jpg
Mercedes-Benz W195

The Mercedes-Benz W195 was an experimental, high-speed automobile produced in the late 1930s.

1938 Mercedes-Benz W195 specifications

  • Engine: MD 25 DAB/3 60 Degree V12
  • Engine Position: Front Longitudinal
  • Aspiration: Twin Roots superchargers
  • Valvetrain: DOHC 2 valves per cylinder
  • Displacement: 5577 cc / 340.3 in³
  • Compression: 9.17:1
  • Power: 548.8 kW / 736 bhp @ 5800 rpm
  • Power/displacement 131.97 bhp per litre (98.4 kW/L)
  • Power/weight: 621.1 bhp per tonne (463 W/kg)
  • Transmission: 4 speed Manual

The record

Rudolf_Caracciola's record of 433 km/h over the flying kilometre on 28 January 1938, still remains the fastest ever officially timed speed on a public road (at time of writing, 2005). It also was the fastest speed ever recorded in Germany until Rico Anthes bettered it with a Top Fuel Dragster on the Hockenheimring drag strip.

This record breaking run was made on the Reichs-Autobahn A5 between Frankfurt and Darmstadt, where onlookers were rattled by the brutal boom of the side spewing exhaust stacks as the silver car hurtled past. By nine that morning, Caracciola and team chief Alfred Neubauer were having a celebration breakfast at the Park Hotel in Frankfurt.

Sadly, popular driver Bernd Rosemeyer was later killed when trying to beat that record for Auto Union. This also put an end to the record attempts of Mercedes, even though Hans Stuck later wanted to beat the overall land speed record with a Porsche-designed Mercedes-Benz T80 which was powered by a 3000hp airplane engine.

Top speed list

1. 433.0 km/h: 1938 Mercedes-Benz W195 (Germany)

2. 409.9 km/h: 1988 Callaway Sledgehammer Corvette (USA)

3. 406.0 km/h: 2002 Bugatti 16/4 Veyron (Italy/Germany)

4. 404.6 km/h: 1994 Dauer 962 LeMans (Germany)

5. 402.3 km/h: 1992 Vector WX3 Concept (USA)

6. 400.7 km/h: 2004 SSC Aero SC/8T (USA)

7. 400.0 km/h: 2004 Chrysler ME Four-Twelve Concept (USA)

8. 400.0 km/h: 2001 Lotec Sirius Concept (Germany)

9. 391,1 km/h: 1998 McLaren F1 (UK)

10. 391.0 km/h: 2004 Koenigsegg CCR (Sweden)

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