Premium

Technology in race cars (1923/3): Benz RH - The drop car

Name: Benz RH 1923
Brand: Benz

Created on April 3, 2024

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daimler-Benz AG

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Archiv

Daimler-Benz AG

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Archiv

Benz RH (1923) - uncompromising teardrop shape of the bodywork

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - racing car with teardrop-shaped body and extremely low seating position

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - first version with spare wheel instead of tank in the front end

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - uncovered rear without radiator with a clear view of the engine and rear axle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - View of the rear swing axle with internal brakes

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - cooling concept from aircraft construction: radiator behind the engine above the clutch on a subframe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Chassis with side members drilled through to save weight

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - front axle and steering, almost every component was perforated for lightweight construction; tank as "crumple zone"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Right-cylinder with two carburetors and two overhead camshafts, behind the radiator and the drop-shaped expansion tank

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - rear axle with forked axle tube, inclined leaf spring and internal drum brake on the differential

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - engine, front with solid bridge for mounting in the chassis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Engine, power output side

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz 10/30 PS (1921) - converted Rumpler Tropfenwagen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1924) - sports car version with Rumpler-style mudguards

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1924) - sports car version, here still with rear radiator, Willy Walb at the wheel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1924) - Willy Walb (seated) and his employees, Messrs. Schönbrunner, Pfanz, Grenz, Müller-Schönith and Stemmer (from left)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Grand Prix of Europe 1923, still without starting numbers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - the Benz team at the 1923 European Grand Prix in Monza

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Ferdinando Minoia next to Felice Nazzaro's Fiat 805 at the 1923 European Grand Prix in Monza

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Ferdinando Minoia at the 1923 European Grand Prix in Monza

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Benz RH (1923) - Franz Hörner at the Solitude hill climb on May 18, 1924

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rumpler Tropfenwagen (1921) - despite striving for the largest possible windshield with radiator figure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rumpler Tropfenwagen (1921) - as an open version

You have only

1 out of 33

images seen in high resolution

Summary

While the concept of aerodynamic optimization for everyday cars initially failed, engineers recognized its potential for race car construction early on. At Benz & Cie, they studied the Rumpler Tropfenwagen very closely in order to finally build a monoposto with the best possible aerodynamics based on its model. However, like the Bugatti 32 and Voisin C6 Laboratoire, the Benz RH failed to achieve a major breakthrough.

This article contains the following chapters

The Rumpler becomes a Benz
Engine
Race debut in Monza

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 1921, aviation pioneer Edmund Rumpler presented the "Tropfenwagen", which he had patented - a car for everyday use that was designed for the best possible aerodynamics. This is why, for example, a mid-engine in the narrower rear section was provided for the first time for an everyday car. This meant that the wider front part of the car's teardrop-shaped floor plan could be used for the passengers. It was therefore not for reasons of driving dynamics that the engine was positioned, as was the case with later mid-engine concepts, but mainly for aerodynamic reasons. However, the memorable naming of this car was based on a misconception: namely that a falling drop of water would actually take on this shape. The great aerodynamicist Paul Jaray had already disproved this in the 1920s.

Welcome to Zwischengas!