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Technology in conversation (4) - weird guys and weird motors

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Created on May 4, 2020

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Daimler AG

Bruno von Rotz

Erhard Börlin

Archiv Daimler AG

Daimler AG - Courtesy Louwman Museum

Tom Wood - Courtesy RM Auctions

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Daimler AG

Bruno von Rotz

Erhard Börlin

Archiv Daimler AG

Daimler AG - Courtesy Louwman Museum

Tom Wood - Courtesy RM Auctions

Archiv

BRM Type 15 (1950) - 16 cylinders, 1.5 liter displacement - Rétromobile Paris 2019

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Inclined V-12 in the Mercedes W154 from 1938

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Models of the Mercedes-Benz W196 and the Lancia D50 - Trio infernale (1/43 models)

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Hermann Lang on Mercedes-Benz W154, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, ax Sailer and Alfred Neubauer on the car - French Grand Prix (1938)

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Rudolf Uhlrenhaut, Alfred Neubauer and mechanic on the Mercedes-Benz W154 - Tripoli Grand Prix (1938)

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BRM V-16 from 1950 - Rear chassis with angled drive shaft

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Mercedes-Benz W154 ll (1939) - in the exhibition "Sleeping Automobile Beauties of the Schlumpf Collection" in Kassel in 2013

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Mercedes-Benz W 154 (1939) - in the exhibition "Sleeping Automobile Beauties of the Schlumpf Collection" in Kassel in 2013

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Mercedes-Benz W154 (1939) - Demonstration run pre-war Silver Arrows at the Goodwood Revival 2012

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Mercedes-Benz W154 (1939) - the engine is installed at an angle

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Mercedes-Benz W154 (1939) - well cooled and installed at an angle - the engine

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Rule Britannia - it's just a pity that the sound of the BRM V-16 is missing ...

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BRM V-16 at Silverstone 1951 - Reg Parnell's battle for 5th place

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Diagonally mounted engine in the BRM V-16 from 1950

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BRM V-16 from 1950 with De Dion rear axle, inclined drive shaft

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BRM Type 15 (1950) - complex design with 1.5-liter V16 engine, it was not successful - Rétromobile Paris 2019

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The car, the driver, the boss - Lancia D50, Alberto Ascari, Gianni Lancia - first test drive in 1954

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Highlight and flash in the pan - 1954 Spanish Grand Prix, pole with Albero Ascari in the first race, superior lead after two laps, then retirement...

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Lancia D50 with preselector gearbox (only used for test drives)

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Low point - Alberto Ascari's Lancia D50 takes a dive in Monaco 1955

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Lancia D50 (1954) - in the race for the Richmond & Gordon Trophies at the Goodwood Revival 2012

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Lancia-Ferrari D50 (1954) - Goodwood Members Meeting 2018 - Hawthorn Trophy

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Lancia Ferrari D50 (1956) - in the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari

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Lancia D50A F1 Recreation (1955) - on offer as lot 115 at the RM Auction of Monaco on May 10, 2014

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Lancia-Ferrari D50 (1954) - 2.5 liters spread over eight cylinders in V-shape - Rétromobile Paris 2016

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Lancia-Ferrari D50 (1954) - View of the supporting V8 engine - Rétromobile Paris 2016

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Low-slung driver in Mercedes W196 against high-legged Ferrari

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Mercedes Benz W 196 R (1954) - French Grand Prix in Reims on July 4, 1954 - Fangio and Kling celebrate a one-two victory at the wheel of the W 196 R with streamlined bodywork

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Mercedes Benz W 196 (1954) - Double victory in Reims on July 4, 1954

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Mercedes Benz W 196 (1954) - Fangio and Kling fought a thrilling duel at the French GP in Reims

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Mercedes-Benz W196R Streamliner (1954) - fast on the road

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Mercedes-Benz W196 R (1955) - Stirling Moss at the 1955 Belgian GP in Spa

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Transparency drawing of the Mercedes-Benz W196 chassis (short version)

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (1955) - the gasoline is distributed into the cylinders via an injection system

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Stripped construction Mercedes Benz W196 from 1954

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Mercedes Benz W196 (1954) - Winner of the German GP and the Swiss GP

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Coventry Climax racing engines - Coventry Transport Museum

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Summary

Normally, engines are installed longitudinally or transversely to the direction of travel in an automobile. However, sometimes there is simply not enough space for this or an exceptional position is required for other reasons. Especially in racing car construction, engines were therefore sometimes installed "at an angle". Why this was the case and how this design trick proved its worth, we let the two buddies Albert and Exbert explain in conversation ...

This article contains the following chapters

Lancia D50 - the little red tanker
Mercedes-Benz W196 - the silver flounder
BRM V-16 - "British misery"
Mercedes-Benz W 154 - the Silver Arrow

Estimated reading time: 20min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Colleagues Albert and Exbert discuss special tricks that designers once used to make their racing cars even faster and more compact ... Albert: You wouldn't believe what a weird guy Robert is. Exbert: What's going on now? A: He's actually claiming that there was a racing car with an angled engine. E: What do you mean, one? A: Are you kidding me now? E: How many times have I made fun of you? A: I don't keep a list! E: Well, there have been four. A: Teasing? E: No, slants. A: You're being evasive. E: On the contrary, I'm getting to the point.

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