This exquisitely designed and remarkably advanced two-stage supercharged V12 Grand Prix car represents the zenith of racing car engineering just before the outbreak of World War II. The 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 stands as a testament to automotive innovation and racing prowess of its era.
This vehicle is not only the final Grand Prix car crafted and raced by the esteemed Daimler-Benz Rennabteilung before the war, but it has also endured in its most evolved configuration. It features the definitive ‘K’-series, or ‘M163’ type, two-stage supercharged 4-cam V12 racing engine. This powerhouse could unleash approximately 483 horsepower at an astonishing 7,800 rpm. Depending on the gear ratios and wheel diameter, the top speed could effortlessly surpass 190 mph, making it a true speed demon of its time.
The annals of road racing history are often categorized into distinct periods, and the most captivating among them is undoubtedly the ‘Age of Titans’ from 1934 to 1939. During this golden age, the German state-supported Grand Prix teams of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union utterly dominated the racing circuits. Their ‘Silver Arrows’ became legendary for their speed and technological superiority.
This era concluded after two seasons where supercharged engines were capped at a maximum of 3-liters capacity. While the preceding 6-liter Grand Prix cars of 1934-37 were built to a maximum weight of 750 kilograms, these subsequent 3-liter cars had to adhere to a minimum weight of 850kg. Despite these changes, it was 3-liter marvels like this Mercedes-Benz W154/39 that demonstrated superior speed and agility on Europe’s classic Grand Prix tracks.
This exceptionally significant machine participated in only one works-team race – the ‘Beograd City Park Race’, also known as the ‘Belgrade Grand Prix’. This event took place in Yugoslavia’s capital, Belgrade, within Kalemegdan Park on September 3, 1939 – a somber day in history as Great Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany.
Manfred von Brauchitsch, nephew of Feld-Marschall Walter von Brauchitsch, a high-ranking German Army officer, piloted this very car in that historic race. Brauchitsch secured pole position in this 1939 Mercedes Benz W154 and led the race at a blistering pace before unfortunately spinning in front of the French Embassy. Rejoining the race against the flow of traffic, he narrowly avoided collision with Italian driver Nuvolari in his Auto Union, who then seized the lead. Ultimately, Tazio Nuvolari emerged victorious in this final race of the ‘Age of Titans’, with Manfred von Brauchitsch finishing second in this truly iconic machine – the ultimate embodiment of the ‘Silver Arrow’.
