1908 Mercedes 35 Hp Chassis Number 371

1908 Mercedes 35 hp Chassis number 371 “The name of my daughter (Mercedes) has certain publicity characteristics that would be lost by using some other name. The name is both exotic and attractive,” so said Emile Jellinek in 1900. Jellinek was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat and entrepreneur who ordered three dozen cars from and designed by Wilhelm Maybach and Paul Daimler (eldest son of his late business partner Gottlieb Daimler). The revolutionary Mercedes 35hp, for its time, truly protected its occupants from the elements. Driver and passengers sat behind a four-cylinder engine ensconced in a pressed-steel chassis frame. With its lowered centre of gravity it had vastly improved road holding and handling characteristics than any other vehicle of the period. This incredibly rare and important Mercedes is thought to perhaps be the oldest surviving shaft driven Mercedes in the world. The Mercedes was commissioned in 1908 by Du Cros of London and sold as a chassis. The build sheets list two commission numbers: 6595 and 1125. This matching numbers car; chassis number 371, engine number 2662, and build number 748, made its way early in its life to Queensland, Australia. It is known that in 1932, it was purchased from a rural dealer and taken to the owner’s property nearby where it remained until 1964. The owner’s son took the vehicle with a view to restoration but it remained as it was until sold to a family friend in 1982. Over the next 25 years the car was subsequently restored and rebodied in its current Roi des Belges guise. It is believed that the chassis, mechanicals, wire wheels, all the lights and dash board instruments are all original. The dashboard/windscreen frame has been manufactured in the correct blackwood timber imported from the Black Forest in Germany in keeping with its original material and fashion. It is understood the car was originally white, may have had a 2-seater body, and that the engine has its original crankshaft, and conrods. The wire wheels are of the era and along with front axle on the car, have most certainly been on the car since the 1930’s and therefore likely to have been fitted early in the car’s history. The original German silver radiator for the car was sold during a period of severe illness by the owner who purchased the car in 1932. "The new Cardan or Shaft driven Mercedes commenced production in 1908 and was featured in the The Automotor Journal of the same year. The new 35 hp Live-Axle Mercedes represented a ground breaking departure from Chain Drive, and was introduced into England by Du Cros of London. The Mercedes whilst maintaining the essential characteristics of the prior Mercedes Simplex, now adopted a multi-disc clutch, that proved to be extremely smooth to operate and a new chassis design that was narrower in the front to improve the steering lock and a new cross braced section in the Chassis to support the propeller shaft housing. Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft referred to the newly developed Shaft Driven cars as “cardan cars”, named after the Italian mathematician, philosopher and physician Gerolamo Cardano (1501 - 1576). The differential has two Crown Wheels that are unique to the vehicle. All of these original features can be seen on this wonderful example, of what possibly represents the oldest shaft driven 35 hp Mercedes known in the world, and as such represent an important part in the development of the Daimler Mercedes legacy. So important is this car, that it is understood that Mr Max Von Pein, the then Head of the Mercedes Benz museum in Germany visited Australia in 1985 and inspected this car in the early stages of restoration. After this inspection he sent, copies of the plans of the car to assist in the restoration and a copy of the original "Bill of sale". This car certainly represents an extremely important part of the history of Mercedes and an important milestone in the continued state of the art technical development of the marque." Fully restored and in running order this vehicle offers a unique opportunity to purchase an important piece of motoring history. Estimate $400,000 – 500,000 Specifications Engine: 35hp shaft driven Transmission: Four speed manual Highlights Very rare shaft driven veteran Mercedes Mechanically very original Factory build sheet verification Matching numbers .

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