Formerly the property of His Royal Highness, Rama VIII, King of Siam
1935 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 500 Landaulet
Chassis no. 10 113 559
Engine no. 113 559
At the end of the First World War, both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars. Trading conditions in the early 1920s though, were extremely difficult: the War had left Germany’s economy in ruins and there was rampant inflation. Of the 86 German car factories operating in 1924, only 19 were in existence three years later. If the two great rivals were to survive, it would have to be in partnership. On 1st July 1926, Daimler and Benz completed their merger, the two companies having paved the way with a technical co-operation agreement in 1924. By this time, Paul Daimler, founder Gottlieb’s son and the company’s Chief Engineer, had moved to Horch, his place being taken by Professor Ferdinand Porsche.
Porsche would stay with Daimler-Benz until 1928, one of the final designs produced under his stewardship being the Nürburg, which at the time of its introduction was the company’s grandest model. Embodying tradition and innovation in equal measure, the Nürburg featured a conventional U-section chassis, rigid axles and semi-elliptic springing, but was powered by a modern straight-eight engine that combined the engine block and upper crankcase in a single casting. Displacing 4,592cc in the Nürburg’s first (Type 460) incarnation, this sidevalve unit would be enlarged to 4,918cc for the Type 500 in 1931. Porsche’s successor Hans Nibel later produced a kurz (short) version of the Nürburg with 11’ 3” wheelbase, but most customers preferred the long (12’ 4”) wheelbase model which was most often seen with formal coachwork. The antiquity of its chassis would prove no handicap in the Nürburg’s intended market, which was still buying this imposing rival to the British Daimler in 1939.
One of 931 Nürburg 500s built, chassis number ‘559’ was sold on 17th July 1935 to its first owner, His Royal Highness Rama VIII, King of Siam (Thailand), at that time resident in Lausanne, Switzerland. Eighth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, Prince Ananda Mahidol had been elected king under his country’s constitution on 2nd March 1935 following the abdication of his uncle, Prajadhipok (Rama VII). At the time of his accession, Rama VIII was nine years old and attending school in Lausanne; he visited Thailand for the first time as monarch aged 13 and did not return to his country again until December 1945. A frail and tragic figure, the young king was found shot dead on 6th June 1946 in his bedroom at the Grand Palace, only a few days before he was scheduled to return to the University of Lausanne to complete his law degree.
A long-wheelbase example, ‘559’ is fitted with Pullman Limousine coachwork, with opening Landaulet rear section, of the type typically favoured by Heads of State. Delivery took place at the Mannheim factory on 24th October 1935, with Swiss importer Hirzel & Stüber’s invoice being issued on 30th October 1935. On 12th January 1950 the car was sold to a Mr Georges Bauer in Geneva, and is it believed to have had one further owner in Switzerland before being sold at the beginning of the 1960s to a Mr J Dumontant in France. Sold in 1980 to the current owner in Switzerland, ‘559’ has since been completely refurbished, the engine and chassis being restored in 1995 and the coachwork in 2005. Offered with assorted correspondence, owner’s manual, roadworthiness certificate and Swiss Carte Grise, this car represents a rare opportunity to acquire a magnificent Mercedes-Benz limousine with well-documented royal associations. This vehicle has been classified by HM Revenue & Customs (UK) as a "collectors' piece of historic interest" under tariff heading 97.O5 OO 9O attracting NIL duty and VAT at the preferential rate applicable in the EU country in which the buyer is domiciled (5% only in the UK). The car comes with a classification certificate issued by HM Revenue &Customs confirming this, and such a ruling is binding throughout the EU.
ER-models studio together with EMC-Models have released a copy of this beautiful car in 1:43 scale in the amount of 60 pieces.
The purchase price and delivery conditions can be specified here: info@er-models.com
