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Mercedes 130 - Volkswagen technology revolution of the thirties and avant-garde in a triple pack

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Created on January 25, 2021

Reading time 7min

Written by:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daimler AG

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Copyright Daimler AG

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Archiv Gerhard Schütz

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Archiv Autor

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Archiv Mercedes

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Daimler AG

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Copyright Daimler AG

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Archiv Gerhard Schütz

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Archiv Autor

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Archiv Mercedes

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25 Jahr vor dem Mini - Mercedes 130 mit Frontquermotor

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Bucciali TAV 2 - Überauto mit Frontantrieb für die Superreichen

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Citroën Traction Avant - Grosserien-Premiere für den Frontantrieb

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Hans Nibel, Schöpfer des Mercedes-Benz 130

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Pläne der Variante "Heckmotor längs" für den Mercedes-Benz 130

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Zentralrohr-Chassis des Mercedes-Benz 130

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Mercedes-Benz 130 (1934) - Fahrgestell des Heckmotorwagens

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Mercedes-Benz 130 (1934) - Vorderachse des Heckmotorwagens

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Mercedes-Benz 130 (1934) - die zweitürige Limousine

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Mercedes-Benz 130 (1935) - mit Zweifarbenlackierung, Heckmotor-Limousine mit aufgesetzten Winkern

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Mercedes-Benz 130 (1935) - Cabrio-Limousine, gebaut zwischen 1934 und 1936

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Mercedes-Benz 150 (1934) - Fahrgestell ohne Aufbau

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Mercedes-Benz 150 (1934) - beim Modell 150 lag der Motor zwischen den Achsen, wies eine obenliegende Nockenwelle und hängene Ventile auf

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Mercedes-Benz 150 (1934) - als Mittelmotor-Sportlimousine, Teilnehmer der 2000 km durch Deutschland

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Mercedes-Benz 150 (1934) - Das Fahrerteam Kasbaum/Wößner gewann in der Sportlimousine eine Gold-Medallie bei der 2000-Kilometer-Fahrt durch Deutschland

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Mercedes-Benz 150 Sport-Roadster (1934) - für zwei Personen und viel Frischluft

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Pläne der Mercedes-Benz-Variante mit quer eingebautem Heckmotor

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Mercedes-Benz 170 H (1936) - der verbesserte 130-er als Cabrio-Limousine, auffallend der fehlende Kranz beim Stern

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Mercedes-Benz 170 H (1936) - als Limousine

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V (1936) - als Limousine, wie sie zwischen 1936 und 1942 gebaut wurde

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V (1936) - fünfsitzige Limousine mit 38 PS

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V (1936) - Cabriolet B als Schnittmodell im Werk Sindelfingen

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V (1936) - das Fahrgestell ohne Aufbau, so gebaut zwischen 1936 und 1942

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V (1936) - fünfsitzige Limousine mit 38 PS

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V Cabriolet A (1936) - der Frontmotor-Benz als Cabriolet

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V (1936) - Cabriolet A, gebaut zwischen 1936 und 1942

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V Cabriolet A (1936) - mit geschlossenem Dach

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Summary

Mercedes-Benz was already thinking about a front-wheel drive passenger car with a transverse engine in the mid-1930s. However, while the more conventional variants of the Mercedes-Benz 130/150/170 were built, only the construction plans of the front-wheel drive transverse-engined 130 exist. This article describes the development history and the main design features of the time and shows the various construction variants in pictures and on construction plans.

This article contains the following chapters

Mercedes 130: The first Beetle? Or the first central-engine road coupé? Or the first Mini? In that order!
The Type 130H with rear engine
The Type 170: with front and rear engine
The Type 150: Central engine 2-seater
The sensation: the Mercedes 130 with transverse engine and front-wheel drive
The front-wheel drive revolution of the 60s

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the "Roaring Twenties" (1920-1929), the cars of the rich and famous became ever larger, more powerful and more exotic (Bucciali, Hispano Suiza, Bugatti, Cadillac 16 cylinder, etc.). With a few exceptions, they were all based on a ladder frame with a front engine and rear-wheel drive. The bodies were mostly built by specialists according to customer specifications. Although the basic concept of the cars for the general public was the same, the bodywork, chassis and drivetrain were industrially manufactured and the car was delivered complete from the factory. The stock market crash of 1929 ("Black Friday") caused demand for luxury cars to plummet dramatically. There was also less demand for the more expensive vehicles in the classes below. As a result, the 1930s saw an increasing number of new developments in the small to mid-range car segment, especially as the "motorization of the people" became a political issue in Germany.

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