1938 Mercedes-Benz W125 Record
The record car chassis was based on the formula car W 125, and it was powered – as was its predecessor in 1936 – by the 12-cylinder engine MD 25 DAB. In a direct competition with Auto Union, Caracciola could set a new record on 28 February 1938. Auto Union’s star driver Bernd Rosemeyer was killed in the attempt to break this record immediately; he was caught by a gust of wind which literally tore the body off his car. — DaimlerChrysler
In Detail
| tags | silver arrow, golden era |
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Record Car |
| built at | Stuttgart, Germany |
| engine | MD 25 DAB/3 60 Degree V12 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Twin Roots Superchargers |
| valvetrain | DOHC 2 Valves per Cyl |
| displacement | 5577 cc / 340.3 in³ |
| bore | 82 mm / 3.23 in |
| stroke | 88 mm / 3.46 in |
| compression | 9.17:1 |
| power | 548.8 kw / 736 bhp @ 5800 rpm |
| specific output | 131.97 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 621.1 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Alluminum over Oval Tube Frame |
| front tires | 6.25×22 |
| rear tires | 7.00×24 |
| front brakes | Alloy drums w/Hydrualic Assist |
| rear brakes | Alloy drums w/Hydrualic Assist |
| steering | Worm & Nut |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil Springs, Hydrualic Shock Absorbers |
| r suspension | De Dion Axle w/Torsion Bar Springs, Hydraulic Dampers |
| curb weight | 1185 kg / 2612 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2725 mm / 107.3 in |
| front track | 1473 mm / 58.0 in |
| rear track | 1412 mm / 55.6 in |
| length | 6250 mm / 246.1 in |
| width | 1850 mm / 72.8 in |
| height | 1150 mm / 45.3 in |
| transmission | 4-Speed Manual |
