Benz 200 HP (1909): Blitzen Benz

This is one of the original depictions of the magnificent Blitzen Benz Model 200 which Moross procured for Oldfield. One of six manufactured, the car was named for the horsepower output of its enormous 1,311-cubic inch four-cylinder engine designed by Louis DeGroullard.
This is one of the original depictions of the magnificent Blitzen Benz Model 200 which Moross procured for Oldfield. One of six manufactured, the car was named for the horsepower output of its enormous 1,311-cubic inch four-cylinder engine designed by Louis DeGroullard.
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
The engine of the 200 hp Lightning Benz racing car (1909) with a displacement of 21.5 liters distributed to four cylinders.
The engine of the 200 hp Lightning Benz racing car (1909) with a displacement of 21.5 liters distributed to four cylinders.
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
The record-breaking version of the Benz 200 HP, called the "Blitzen-Benz". It was in this car that Victor Hémery became the fastest person on earth at the Brooklands racetrack on 8 November 1909, clocking a speed of 205.666 km/h.
The record-breaking version of the Benz 200 HP, called the "Blitzen-Benz". It was in this car that Victor Hémery became the fastest person on earth at the Brooklands racetrack on 8 November 1909, clocking a speed of 205.666 km/h.
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
Benz 200 hp (1909-1911): Blitzen Benz
This exceptionally rare image captured Oldfield crossing the finish line at Ormond Beach on March 16, 1910, as he set a new speed record of over 131 miles per hour in the Blitzen Benz.
This exceptionally rare image captured Oldfield crossing the finish line at Ormond Beach on March 16, 1910, as he set a new speed record of over 131 miles per hour in the Blitzen Benz.
Barney Oldfield acquired the famous “Blitzen Benz,” and renamed it the “Lightning Benz.” At Daytona Beach on March 16, 1910, Oldfield set a new world land speed record of 131.275 mph. At the time, the speed was the fastest any person had traveled in any kind of vehicle – car, train or airplane.
Barney Oldfield acquired the famous “Blitzen Benz,” and renamed it the “Lightning Benz.” At Daytona Beach on March 16, 1910, Oldfield set a new world land speed record of 131.275 mph. At the time, the speed was the fastest any person had traveled in any kind of vehicle – car, train or airplane.
Benz 200 hp (1910): “Lightning Benz” - Barney Oldfield
Benz 200 hp (1910): “Lightning Benz” - Barney Oldfield
Blitzen Benz - Bob Burman - May 29,1911
Blitzen Benz - Bob Burman - May 29,1911
Blitzen Benz - Bob Burman
Blitzen Benz - Bob Burman
Blitzen Benz - Bob Burman - Боб Бурман в символической короне триумфатора
Blitzen Benz - Bob Burman - Боб Бурман в символической короне триумфатора
Blitzen Benz - Мощные выпускные патрубки сводились к подобию выхлопной трубы. Грохот, издаваемый двигателем, очевидцы описывали как «ужасающий».
Blitzen Benz - Мощные выпускные патрубки сводились к подобию выхлопной трубы. Грохот, издаваемый двигателем, очевидцы описывали как «ужасающий».
Blitzen Benz #2
Blitzen Benz #2
Иллюстрации: Daimler AG.; Mercedes-Benz Classic
Рейтинг:  2    -0    +2
Land speed record 141.73 mph / 228.1 km/h
И в наше время трудно возразить утверждению, что достичь большей мощности двигателя можно путем увеличения его рабочего объема, а на заре развития автомобилизма это был общепризнанный и, пожалуй, единственный способ. Низкое качество топлива, огромный вес и инерция кованного коленвала ограничивали скорость вращения, позволяя раскрутить двигатель лишь до 1500 — 2000 оборотов в минуту.

Решив войти в гонки, Карл Бенц, в 1908 году дебютировал с автомобилем Benz GP, имевшим четырехцилиндровый двигатель объемом 12,8 литров и мощностью 120 лошадиных сил. Впечатленный достигнутой скоростью в 160 километров в час, он приступил к разработке рекордного автомобиля, замахнувшись на достижение максимальной скорости на суше.

«Blitzen Benz» был спроектирован и построен компанией Benz & Cie в 1909 году с единственной целью — преодоление 200-километрового скоростного барьера. Учитывая, что «маломощные» автомобили GP не годились для столь честолюбивого проекта, Бенц построил двигатель, объем которого — 21,5 литров никогда не был превышен продукцией Benz & Cie, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft или Daimler-Benz AG. Первая версия этого силового агрегата развивала 184 л.с. при 1500 оборотах в минуту, но после тщательной и точной настройки мощность была увеличена до 200 л.с. при 1600 об/мин. Мотор был установлен на стандартное шасси GP, и новый автомобиль, согласно принципам обозначения компании, получил индекс Benz 200HP.

Свой характер Benz 200HP показал с самого начала. Во Франкфурте-на-Майне дистанцию один километр с хода автомобиль преодолел со средней скоростью 159,3 километра в час. Однако, короткие круговые трассы Европы не давали автомобилю полностью раскрыть свой потенциал, и в 1910 году Benz 200HP, оснащенный новым, очень узким обтекаемым кузовом был отправлен в Америку, где Барни Олдфилд (Barney Oldfield) 17 марта 1910 года в Дайтона-Бич развил скорость 211,97 км/ч. 23 апреля Боб Берман (Bob Burman) на этом же автомобиле, получившим прозвище «Молния Бенц» установил новый рекорд скорости на дистанции один километр со стартом с хода — 228,1 км/ч, который продержался до 1919 года.

Всего компанией Benz & Cie было построено шесть автомобилей Benz 200HP «Blitzen Benz». Два из них сохранились до наших дней — один в музее Мерседес-Бенц, другой в частной коллекции в США. В 2004 году еще один американский почитатель марки Benz построил точную копию Benz 200HP, используя некоторые оригинальные части от разбившихся машин и тесно сотрудничая с Mercedes-Benz Classic.


Primeval force from 21.5 litres of displacement.

A displacement of 21.5 litres, a top speed of more than 200 km/h and a streamlined body. And all this as far back as 1909: the "Lightning Benz" – known internally as the Benz 200 hp – is one of the most fascinating creations to emanate from the early days of Mercedes-Benz. It was developed under the aegis of Victor Héméry, a successful French racing driver who had been under contract to Benz & Cie. in Mannheim since 1907.

Carl Benz himself was in fact against the project. He was of the opinion that motor racing did not add anything of value to the production of regular automobiles. Julius Ganss, a board member at Benz & Cie., had very different ideas. He felt that there was one thing above all to be gained from the proposed record-breaking car: publicity.

The creation of the Benz 200 hp record-breaking car.

For it would be faster than any other road-going or airborne vehicle of its time, including motorboats and trains. The technical basis was provided by the Benz 150 hp racing car of 1908. There was just one objective: a maximum speed of more than 200 km/h. By widening the bore to 185 millimetres, the displacement of the four-cylinder racing engine was increased from 15.1 to a monumental 21.5 litres . This is a figure that remains a record to this day: No racing or record-attempt car from Mercedes-Benz has ever had a larger displacement. The engine developed an output of up to 147 kW (200 hp) at 1600 rpm. The huge four-cylinder in-line unit weighed 407 kilograms; the entire vehicle 1450 kilograms. An intermediate shaft and chain drive transferred this tremendous power to the rear axle via a four-speed transmission.

Maximum speed of more than 200 km/h.

For its first outings of 1909, the engine was still set within the body of the Benz Grand Prix automobile of 1908. The new 200 hp car made its first appearance on 17 October 1909 in a sprint race in Brussels, which it promptly won. The declared aim, however, was to exceed the 200 km/h mark.

To the infernal thunder of the four-cylinder engine, he achieved a speed of 202.648 km/h over a kilometre. The half-mile was covered at a fulminating 205.666 km/h, in both cases with a flying start. The magical barrier of 200 km/h for an automobile with an internal combustion engine had been breached.

The “Lightning Benz” is born.

Next in line was the conquest of America, for in 1906 a certain Fred Marriott had managed 205 km/h on Daytona Beach, driving a steam-powered Stanley Steamer. In January 1910 the record-breaking Benz was sent across the Big Pond.

Its destination was New York, where Benz importer Jesse Froehlich operated his business. Its arrival soon became known to event impresario Ernie Moross Wind – and he negotiated a deal: he handed his 150 hp Grand Prix car over to Froehlich, counted out a further 6000 dollars onto the table and received the record-breaking Benz in exchange . And because the name really does say it all in this case, he began by christening the car the “Lightning Benz”.

Record attempts on Daytona Beach.

The German name "Blitzen-Benz", which sounded even more combative to American ears, was not used until a little later. An imperial eagle was also painted onto the bonnet. But it was as yet without this embellishment that the Benz appeared on Daytona Beach for its record-breaking attempt on 16/17 March. The driver this time was the daredevil Barney Oldfield, who set a new record of 211.4 km/h. The record was not recognized, however, because the attempt did not comply with the regulations valid at the time.

Bob Burman sets a momentous record.

It was not until 1911 that Moross was able to try his luck again, albeit this time with the former Buick works driver Bob Burman behind the wheel of the Blitzen-Benz. On 23 April Burman raced across the sands of Daytona Beach to achieve an average speed of 228.1 km/h over a flying mile, with 226.7 km/h for the flying kilometre.

This was a new land speed record that was to remain unbroken until 1919. Following this, the “Blitzen-Benz” toured America as a show attraction.

Six of the Benz 200 hp were built.

In 1913 the legendary record-breaking car was retired from service. Its history can continue to be traced up to 1923, when it was disassembled and its parts were used for another racing car project. A total of six Benz 200 hp cars were built, some of them with the "Blitzen-Benz" body and some with different bodywork. Three of them remain: number 6 with an extended chassis and touring coachwork is owned by an American collector. The example in the Mercedes-Benz Museum was reconstructed in 1935 from parts then still in existence, and was restored in 2004.
По материалам: carpedia.ru; www.mercedes-benz.com
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