As part of this year'scelebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz SilverArrows, the German automaker has brought together three generations oftrucks that have been used to transfer the firm's racing cars over theyears. These include the 1934 Lo 2750, an awesome replica of the oncefastest racing car transporter in the world, the so-called 'BlueWonder' from 1955 that was powered by the original Gullwing'sdirect-injection engine, and a modern day Actros Truck.
Needlessto say, the one that stands out like a shining star is the officialreplica of the 'Blue Wonder'. Built at the request of racing managerAlfred Neubauer in the mid 1950s, this one-of-a-kind transporter servedMercedes-Benz for more than a decade.The6.75-metre-long and two-meters-wide hauler used a lengthened tubularframe from the Mercedes-Benz 300 S luxury coupe of the era.
Powerwas provided by a three-liter inline-six with direct-injection thatcame straight from the legendary 300 SL Gullwing sports car of 1955,while various body components such as the doors, wings and some of theinterior appointments were sourced from the Mercedes-Benz 180 standardsaloon. It was then billed as the 'fastest racing car transporter inthe world'.
AfterMercedes-Benz withdrew from motor sports at the end of 1955, the 'BlueWonder' initially served as an exhibition vehicle in the USA, followedby ten years of service for Mercedes-Benz test drives. Unfortunately,Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who managed the motor sports department during theracing car carriers' "active" period, had the one-off model scrapped in1967.
However, decades later, Mercedes-Benz rebuilt this stunning racing car hauler based on archive photographs.
Asfor the other two trucks featured here, the Mercedes-Benz Lo 2750 is acompletely restored model from 1936 equipped with a four-cylinderpetrol engine while the 4-meter tall and 16.5-metre long 2009 ActrosTruck that's powered by a V8 turbo diesel currently serves as a carrierfor Mercedes-Benz's Formula 1 and DTM racing cars. |
發表於 2009-11-20 12:17 PM
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