On the occasion of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on October 19, 1924, [racing driver (ed.)] Christian Werner and Alfred Neubauer [also a works racing driver at the time] had the idea of building a racing transporter. This converted Mercedes touring two-seater Type 15/70/100 PS, here with Christian Werner at the wheel, intended for the Mercedes Monza 2-liter - 8-cylinder - racing car, was first seen at Monza in 1924. Behind the car – pictured on page 3 – are Alfred Neubauer (3rd from right) and Ferdinand Porsche, (2nd from right). [Quote Mercedes-Benz Media].
This was a fabulous idea to get the race car from Stuttgart to Monza quickly and was later revisited with the famous 1954 Mercedes "Blue Wonder" race transporter. But the idea was not really that new: already four years before, in 1920, a Ford Model T was converted to a race transporter with a drive-on loading platform on the occasion of the "Indianapolis 500" - race in the United States, and in "old times" before, there was already a double-decker race transporter (unfortunately - due to lack of picture material - of an indefinable brand)...however, the race cars look also more like so-called "soapboxes". By the way: for any information regarding the manufacturer of this "soapbox racing car transporter", or whether the supposed “soapboxes” are more than just that, I would be very happy.
The "Grand Premio d'Italia," Monza - Sunday, Oct. 19, 1924.
The fourth Italian Grand Prix took place at the 'Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
But let's take a step back: the first Italian GP took place on the semi-permanent circuit of Montichiari in Lombardy. After this race, it became clear that a permanent track was needed to meet the technical and commercial needs of the growing number of national car manufacturers. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the Milan Automobile Club designed and financed a 10 km circuit to be built in the prestigious park of Villa Reale of Monza, north of Milan. The architect Alfredo Rosselli was commissioned to design the track. The construction works, start on May 15 and after only 110 days, on a rainy September 3, 1922, thanks to the work of 3500 workers, 20 trucks and the equipment of the main contractor Piero Puricelli, the race track is inaugurated by the Italian Prime Minister Facta. Then, on September 10, 1922, the second Grand Premio d'Italia took place on what was then called "the fastest racetrack in the world".
Mercedes in the 1924 Italian Grand Prix:
It was the first time after the First World War that Mercedes took part in a "Grand Prix" race again. For this purpose, Ferdinand Porsche had developed a supercharged 2-liter inline eight-cylinder racing car, the M128, which was intended to outrun the powerful Alfa-Romeo racers. It was the first car that Ferdinand Porsche designed himself in his new function as chief designer of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. Despite the long development time, the handling was not optimal, rather problematic, and the car was very difficult to control. The long development time almost prevented Mercedes from taking part in the race, had it not been for a change of schedule on the part of the Italian organization that enabled the cars to be completed on time after all.
In fact, both Bugatti and Delage had withdrawn their cars in the face of the powerful supercharged Alfa-Romeo race cars, and Fiat's drivers were injured. So only 4 racing teams remained, and the race was postponed for 6 weeks, actually only so that DMG could finish its new supercharged M128 and participate.
The public expected a duel between Alfa Romeo and Mercedes.
Start: 1.Reihe: L: Antonio Ascari (Alfa-Romeo); M: Christian Werner (Mercedes); R: Jules Goux (Rolland-Pilain)
The Alfa Romeos were driven by the famous Antonio Ascari, Giuseppe Campari, Fernandino Minoia, and - as substitute drivers - by Cesare Pastore, and Bruno Presenti.
Mercedes drivers were Christian Werner, Alfred Neubauer, Giulio Masetti, and Englishman Louis Zborowski behind the wheel, with Otto Merz, Richard Sailer, and Rudolf Caracciola as substitute drivers.
Shortly after the start, Ascari took the lead in his Alfa Romeo, which he successfully defended until the end. At the beginning of the race Giulio Masetti was in second place, but gradually he was overtaken by the other three Alfa Romeos.
Finally, Giulio Masetti had to retire from the race with an empty tank (!). Louis Zborowski meanwhile tried to catch up with the Alfa Romeos, but then in the 'Curve di Lesmo' (Lesmo curve), due to the poor road holding of the Mercedes, he lost control, went off the track, crashed into a tree, and died on the spot.
In view of this fatal accident, Mercedes withdrew shortly thereafter the two remaining cars, driven repectively by Christian Werner and Alfred Neubauer, from the race, allowing Alfa Romeo to record a completely uncompetitive quadruple victory.
Mercedes im Großen Preis von Italien 1924:
Auf geht’s: die Mercedes Wagen: von rechts: Nr.2 Christian Werner, Nr.6 Alfred Neubauer, Nr.12: Louis Zborowski)
Quellen / sources: Mercedes-Benz AG ; Pirelli Archives ; Porsche Museum Stuttgart; Italian Ministry of Culture (MiBACT)
L: A. Neubauer
L: Mercedes No. 6: A. Neubauer (Mercedes) – R: Alfa-Romeo No 5: G. Campari (Alfa-Romeo)
L: R. Caracciola – R : Chritian Werner
Autocult has now produced and is releasing the 1:43 model of the racecar transporter specially built by the DMG for the Monza race, and the actual Mercedes race car developed for the race together as a set. As usual Autocult has produced a beautiful detailed and accurate pair of models, well deserving of a prime display place in any Mercedes-Benz model collection.
The price of the set is 199.50 € (+ shipping where applicable). If this seems a touch pricey, remember, you are getting two models here.
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