
Along with the Silver Arrows (racing cars of Mercedes-Benz), another iconic creation that caught the attention of the world was the Transporter that Mercedes developed to transport their racing machines to the racetracks in 1955.
On the request of then Mercedes Racing Team Manager Alfred Neubauer, the factory went on to build the same in 1954. Using the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz 300S, fixing a forward-positioned cabin and using parts of a Mercedes-Benz 180 model (fenders, doors, etc.) this was powered by their 300SL 3.0 litre, 6-cylinder engine. This transporter would do a maximum of 170 km/hr. Because of her blue paint coating this vehicle was nick-named Blue Wonder.
After the Le Mans tragedy of 11th June 1955 when Mercedes-Benz driver Pierre Levegh crashed his 300 SLR that killed him and another 85 spectators, the Management decided to withdraw from racing prompting factory to use this transporter in the USA for road shows. This model, after 10 years, was finally scrapped in 1967.
Somewhere in 1994 using old drawings from the archives, Mercedes-Benz reconstructed a complete new model and today the same can be seen at their Stuttgart museum.
Highlights | |
- Premium collectible | |
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- Licensed product | |
- Material: ZAMAC (zinc alloy), Rubber and Plastic | |
- Moving wheels | |
- Non-opening bonnet, boot and doors |
Specifications | |
Brand | Mercedes Benz |
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Period | 1947-1970 |
Year | 1955 |
Model Origin | Germany |
Scale | 1:18 |
Box Dimension (in inches) | 18 x 7.5 x 6 |
Color | Blue |
Make | i-Scale |
Theme | Racing - F1 / GP |
Material | Metal |