With the Mercedes-Benz 770 "Grand Mercedes", the brand took on another leading role in automobile construction in 1930 - 90 years ago.
These extremely prestigious vehicles impressed with their exceptional driving performance and outstanding ride comfort. An eight-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 7.7 liters provided the befitting drive for the W 07 model series.
Built between 1930 and 1938, the "big Mercedes" remained highly exclusive, with only 117 examples being produced in various versions.
It was replaced by the W 150 series with the identical model designation 770 "Large Mercedes". The W 07 is a milestone in the tradition of automobiles that are among the best in the world - right up to today's Mercedes-Maybach S-Class luxury and prestige vehicles.
Magnificent exhibits
The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim has two 770 "Great Mercedes" on display. One of these is the 1932 Cabriolet F, a special edition for Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was living in exile in the Netherlands at the time. The radiator is adorned with the Hohenzollern coat of arms instead of the Mercedes star. The exterior color navy blue is the Kaiser's homage to the German navy.
Right next to it is the Pullman limousine of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, which was one of the first automobiles ever to be delivered in a bulletproof special protection version in 1935. The protective measures included thick, multi-layered glazing on the side and rear windows and armored roof and doors. An interesting detail: both vehicles are among the few W 07s to be delivered without a compressor.
Premiere in Paris
The Mercedes-Benz 770 "Grand Mercedes" was presented in October 1930 at the Salon de l'Automobile in Paris, the world's leading motor show at the time. The largest, heaviest and also most expensive model in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range secured Daimler-Benz AG a leading position in international automotive engineering at the time. A contemporary Mercedes-Benz brochure leaves no doubt about this claim and speaks of the "most powerful passenger car in Germany and one of the largest in the world".
It continued: "It is the car with the special touch, created for the most discerning demands, for the circle of leading men of all countries who always demand the highest performance and the greatest comfort."
Two years of development
After two years of development work, the Board of Management decides at a management meeting on March 6, 1930, to press ahead with bringing the W 07 to production maturity and to complete the Nürburgring trials by the end of May of that year. On June 6, 1930, the new Chairman of the Board of Management, Wilhelm Kissel, summed up: the "development of a new large car" had been necessary in order to have an up-to-date luxury class vehicle in the model range again.
Commenting on the self-imposed demands on the design of the W 07, Kissel says: "It goes without saying that this car must meet what is demanded of Daimler-Benz."
Eight instead of twelve cylinders
Unlike many competitors, the team led by the head of the design office Dr. Hans Nibel and head of engine development Albert Heeß did not opt for an engine with twelve cylinders, but for an eight-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 7.7 liters. Its maximum speed is 2,800 rpm.
This M 07 delivers 110 kW (150 hp), and when the Roots supercharger is engaged when the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, it delivers 147 kW (200 hp). At a reduced price of RM 3,100, the "big Mercedes" could also be ordered without a supercharger. However, only 13 of the 117 customers opted for this option. Of the two spark plugs per cylinder, one is supplied via high-voltage magneto ignition and one via battery ignition.
Elaborate design
Power is transmitted via a three-speed gearbox, which is supplemented by a virtually silent Maybach high-speed gearbox. It can be engaged to any of the three forward gears. This means that six gears are available in practice.
The high-speed gearbox is shifted without using the clutch via a semi-automatic naturally aspirated gearshift operated by the steering wheel lever. The four-wheel brakes are operated mechanically and are supported by a Bosch Dewandre servo brake. The "big Mercedes" has a rigid axle with a double-T profile at the front and a banjo-shaped rigid axle at the rear. Central lubrication is fully automatic.
The suspension, which has been highly praised by experts, has a rather conservative design, resulting in optimum safety and comfort. The top model from Mercedes-Benz is supplied with wooden-spoke wheels or wire-spoke wheels, which are fitted with Rudge quick-release fasteners for a quick change.
Technical data (1930)
Eight-cylinder in-line engine, 7,655 cubic centimeters, output: 110 kW (150 hp) or with supercharger 147 kW (200 hp) at 2,800 rpm. Fuel consumption around 28 to 30 liters per 100 kilometers, tank capacity 120 liters. Top speed with supercharger activated around 160 km/h, weight of chassis: 1,950 kilograms, weight of complete vehicle: 2,700 kilograms, wheelbase: 3,750 millimetres, overall length: 5,600 millimetres.
In variants
The bodies of the "Big Mercedes" are produced in the special vehicle construction department at the Sindelfingen plant. Final assembly and handover to the customer takes place in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim. Initially, the Pullman saloon, 42 of which will be produced, will be offered with six to seven seats.
Convertibles B, C, D and F as well as an open-top touring car complete the body selection in September 1932, along with bodies from a number of private coachbuilders such as Erdmann & Rossi. The body design changes during the 1930s towards increasingly fluid shapes.
Expensive
A comparison shows how clearly the W 07 stood out from the general price level: the Pullman saloon with supercharger was offered for RM 41,000 during the entire production period from 1930 to 1938, while the 170 (W 15) presented in 1931 cost RM 4,400.
Even the 540 K, which also contributed greatly to the reputation of Mercedes-Benz during the 1930s, cost just over half the price of the "big Mercedes" in 1936 at RM 22,000.
Praised by the press
The trade magazine "Motor und Sport" gave the following verdict in issue 24/1932: "In contrast to the well-known designs of the competition, the behavior of the Large Mercedes is unimpeachable at all speeds. [...] We know of hardly any other vehicle that would allow such safe driving with heavy bodies at the breathtaking speed of 120 km/h [... and] is easily capable of maintaining the D-train speed."
