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Mercedes-Benz W165

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Mercedes-Benz W165
CategoryVoiturette
ConstructorMercedes-Benz
Designer(s)Max Sailer
Albert Heess
Max Wagner
Rudolf Uhlenhaut
Technical specifications
ChassisOval tubular frame
Suspension (front)Independent suspension with wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic dampers
Suspension (rear)De Dion tube, torsion bars, cockpit adjustable hydraulic dampers
Axle track1,440 mm (57 in) (front)
1,280 mm (50 in) (rear)
Wheelbase2,450 mm (96 in)
EngineM164 1.5 litre V8 90° supercharged front-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionMercedes-Benz 5-speed
Power254 horsepower
Competition history
Notable entrantsDaimler-Benz AG
Notable driversRudolf Caracciola
Hermann Lang
Debut1939 Tripoli Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
1101
Drivers' Championships0

The Mercedes-Benz W165 is a racing car designed by Mercedes-Benz to meet voiturette racing regulations. It won its only race, the 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix, driven to a 1–2 victory by Hermann Lang and teammate Rudolf Caracciola.

This car was remarkably designed and built in eight months for this prestigious and very fast north African event, which was the time that the rules were changed by the Italian organizers; this was done as an attempt to avoid another dominant victory by German manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union and to give Italian manufacturers Alfa Romeo and Maserati a chance at victory. The car had a 1,493 cc (91.1 cu in) capacity 64 mm × 58 mm (2.52 in × 2.28 in) supercharged V8 engine; it would have been eligible for the post war Grand Prix period from 1946 to 1951, but it never raced during that time, whereas the Alfa Romeo 158, one of the W165's competitors during the 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix was very much the dominant car during that time. The bigger and more powerful W154 was Mercedes's main Grand Prix car during 1938 and 1939, so the W165 was only used once; there was hardly any other use for it.[1]

Jackie Stewart in the Mercedes-Benz W 165 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014

Following an invitation by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman, Caracciola entered a W165 in the 1946 Indianapolis 500. However, Swiss customs refused to allow the car out of their country, preventing Caracciola from competing.[2]

Technical data

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Technical data W165
Engine:  Front mounted 8 cylinder V engine
displacement 1493 cm3
Bore x stroke:  64 x 58mm
Max power at rpm:  254 hp (258 PS) at 8 250 rpm
Max torque at rpm:  245 N⋅m (181 lb⋅ft) at 6 500 rpm
Valve control:  2 overhead camshafts per cylinder row, 4 valves per cylinder
Upload Roots compressor
Gearbox 5-speed manual
suspension front:  Double wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
suspension rear:  De Dion axle, longitudinal torsion bar, hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body Cross-shaped oval tube frame with aluminum body
Wheelbase 245 cm
Dry weight About 715 kg

Complete results

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Non-championship results

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Year Event Venue Driver Result Category Report
1939 Tripoli Grand Prix Mellaha Hermann Lang 1 Voiturette Report
Rudolf Caracciola 2

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Mercedes-Benz".
  2. ^ Thomas O'Keefe. "East Meets West: Mercedes-Benz at Indy". AtlasF1.com. Retrieved 27 January 2010.

Bibliography

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  • Nixon, Chris (2003) [1986]. Racing the Silver Arrows: Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union 1934-1939 (revised ed.). Isleworth, Middlesex, UK: Transport Bookman Publications. ISBN 0851840558.
  • Sugahara, Louis (2004). Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Race Cars 1934–1955. Fredericksburg, TX, USA: Mercedes-Benz Classique Car Library. ISBN 1933123001.
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