A 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 Silver Arrow was specially featured at Lime Rock Park’s Vintage Festival September 4-7, 2009.
A stellar attraction of the legendary period from 1934 to 1939, the W154 represented the apogee of the supercharger era of Mercedes-Benz’s racing vehicles. Rudolf Carraciola drove a Silver Arrow to the Grand Prix world title in 1938. The car dominated again in 1939, piloted by Hermann Lang.
The W154 was created as a result of a rule change by the sports governing body AIACR, which required supercharged engine capacities to be limited to 3000cc. Mercedes’ previous car, the W125 used a 5700cc engine and was therefore ineligible to be entered. Mercedes decided that a new car, designed from the outset to comply with the new regulations would be preferable to modifying the existing car and thus designed the W154.
Germany’s Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union GP motor racing vehicles between 1934 and 1939 were dubbed “Silver Arrows” by the press, applying later to Mercedes-Benz F1 and sports cars from 1954 onward.
Very few of these cars were built and many were broken up or simply disappeared during the war era 1939-45 war. Audi has commissioned several replicas of their Auto Union ancestors which appear at important vintage events.
The Lime Rock feature was the first time this particular Mercedes-Benz W154 had been on a race track since 1939, when it finished 2nd in the Jugoslav Grand Prix driven by Manfred von Brauschitsch.
Mercedes-Benz W 154 Silver Arrow Photo Gallery
The M154 engine was a 2-stage supercharged 2,961 cc V12 engine that produced 476 hp at 7,800 rpm.
Mercedes-Benz W154 front suspension featured independent suspension with wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic dampers
Mercedes-Benz W154 Silver Arrow Video (Shot and edited by John Godfrey jgatv.com)
[Source: Wikipedia; Lime Rock; photo credit: Al Wolford; video credit: John Godfrey]
I was able to take an up close look at Lime Rock and take a few photos of my own. Another fine work by Paul Russell and Co. Under its skin, the W154 has the affect of looking both timeless and modern.
Here is the video that Lime Rock commissioned me to do for them on the running of this car at the track.
Can you imagine, yourself, attempting to man handle that German Brute around the Nurbergring for 6 hours ? Monza ?
You needed nerves, arms and balls of steel, and an iron butt. And in a pinch you had to know how to squint.