This photograph shows the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Renntransporter or Mercedes-Benz racing car transporter with the equally magnificent Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Formula One – F1- single seat racecar that is visible on the photo as well! This image was taken in 1955 at the Mercedes-Benz factory.

We see the “Blue Wonder” Mercedes-Benz “Renntransporter” or Mercedes-Benz racing car transporter which was invented and build by Mercedes-Benz in 1954. It was used for FAST transport of the Mercedes-Benz factory racing cars.

On top of it we see the mighty Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Formula One – F1 – Grand Prix race car. It would win the Formula One World Championship in 1955, the year the photo was taken. In 1954 it also won the F1 World Championship!

A very rare and very historic photograph to own, it would look wonderfully framed and it would make a magnificent and very special gift! We have more images available of the Mercedes-Benz racing transporter and other images.

The “Blue Wonder” Mercedes-Benz “Renntransporter” was extremely fast, because Mercedes used the fuel injected 6-cylinder racing engine of the amazing 300SL! The photographed racing car transport truck was and still is (!) the fastest racing car transporter in the world! The Mercedes-Benz engineering team had to make sure that the vehicle should be very fast and reliable whether it was carrying a racing car or not. With the engineering knowhow of different types of specialists and virtually an unlimited budget, the result was the spectacular-looking blue transporter that soon became hot topic on everyone closely observing the Grand Prix racing scene of the 1950s. In order to provide ample space for the racing car which was to be loaded in the rear, a Mercedes-Benz Typ 300 tubular frame was used and extended for the truck, while the 300 SL engine was installed right on top of the front axle, connected with the synchronized four speed manual transmission.

We have a few more photographs available of the Mercedes-Benz Renntransporter, with and without a racecar. Also of the 1920s version.

The Mercedes-Benz' racing department was the first to use specially build racing car transporters. They also acted as mobile workshops. Mercedes-Benz’ "Silver Arrow Rapid Deployment Team" consisted of specially modified blue Mercedes-Benz trucks, meant to ensure a fast and reliable supply chain from the factory where the racing cars where built to the circuit where they were supposed to win races. Truth be told, most vehicles used for this purpose didn't exactly stand out except when carrying their precious cargo and maybe for their distinctive blue color, but something happened after World War II. After a few years of recession, Germany quickly recovered and so did Mercedes-Benz, who restarted their motorsport program in a spectacular fashion, also under the supervision of Alfred Neubauer. Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Hans Herrmann and Karl Kling were the wind beneath the wings of the newly developed W194 and W196 racing cars, which quickly became as legendary as the original Silver Arrows. To aid their cause, the racing car carriers also had to make a comeback, only this time few suspected it was to return with a huge bang. Among numerous other crazy but effective ideas, Alfred Neubauer was dreaming of fast racing car transporters to be used instead of regular modified Mercedes-Benz trucks. With this in mind, he demanded the construction of what was to become the fastest racing car transporter in the world - a title which it still carries today.

The development of the Mercedes-Benz racing transporter on the photograph can be described as follows. With a chassis that was based on the x-shaped tubular frame from a Mercedes-Benz Typ 300, the new renntransporter was both a joint engineering effort between different teams under the supervision of Rudolf Uhlenhaut and a melange of different Mercedes car parts. The engine and gearbox, for example, were transplanted from the 300 SL "Gullwing", while most interior fittings were borrowed from the Typ 180. The engineering team had to make sure that the vehicle should be very fast and reliable whether it was carrying a racing car or not, so demands were simple albeit very high. With the engineering knowhow of different types of specialists and virtually an unlimited budget, the impossible became possible in a very short time. The result was the spectacular-looking blue transporter that soon became hot topic on everyone closely observing the Grand Prix racing scene of the 1950s. In order to provide ample space for the racing car which was to be loaded in the rear, the Typ 300 tubular frame was extended, while the inline six cylinder engine with direct injection from the 300 SL was installed right on top of the front axle, connected with the synchronized four speed manual transmission. The truck weighed three tonnes without cargo, but its braking power wasn't compromised thanks to hydraulic drum brake system on all fours and a pneumatic brake booster from Bosch. Ready in mid-1954, the blue aerodynamic truck was mainly used for special duties - like getting a racing car as fast as possible to the track after some last-minute adjustments or to bring a damaged car to the garage in order to cut down on the repair time. Its looks brought so much success that at one time it even battled for newspaper headlines with the actual racing cars it was built to haul. At the end of 1955 it was even borrowed to conduct a tour through America, to be featured in a number of car shows. The vehicle's unusually streamlined body created tonnes of controversy as to what its top speed actually was, until someone painted "Top speed 105 mph" on one of the rear fenders. Sadly, after the world's most horrific motorsport accident in history that happened at the 1955 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing completely (for quite a while), and so the Renntransporter remained jobless. Thanks to its gathered fame, the original intention was for it to be placed in the old Mercedes-Benz Museum while carrying a 300 SLR, but because the combined weight of the two cars would have exceeded the load-bearing capacity of the building's floor, the idea was dropped. After a small stint of doing special jobs which helped the road-testing of prototype cars, the world's fastest racing car transporter was finally scrapped in December 1967. Since there weren't any plans available for the vehicle's construction, its legend remained forgotten until 1993, when Mercedes-Benz Classics decided to rebuild it based on all the classic photos and old information that could be gathered. Expert builders spent almost 6000 hours of work and after seven long years the Renntransporter was finally rebuilt from scratch. The resulting car has now found a place in the new Mercedes-Benz Museum, hauling a 300 SLR for eternity.

The Mercedes-Benz W196 was the Formula 1 entry of Mercedes-Benz in the 1954 Formula One season and 1955 Formula One season, winning 9 of 12 races at the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. Its delayed debut on the 1954 French Grand Prix brought the streamlined "Typ Monza" body for the high speed track at Reims-Gueux (and later Monza), and scored a 1-2 victory with Fangio and Karl Kling plus a fastest lap with youngster Hans Herrmann. Another remarkable first was the use of Desmodromic valves and fuel injection, based on previous experience collected with the engines of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. As the streamlined body was not suituable for twistier tracks, causing a defeat at its second race at Silverstone, a proper open-wheel-version was introduced at the Nürburgring. Fangio, who had already won the first two GPs of 1954 with a Maserati, won this and the two following GPs, securing his 2nd World Championship. In late October, at the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix, the low-mounted Mercedes air-intake was clogged with leaves. The race was lost, and the air-intake moved to the top of the hood.

In the 1955 Formula One season, which was shortened after the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the Mercedes managed to win all but one race, the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix, were Hans Herrmann crashed in practice, and the other 3 cars did not finish. At his 1955 British Grand Prix home event, Stirling Moss finished 0.2 seconds ahead of Fangio for his first GP win. For sportscar races of the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was derived from it. After winning all world championships it competed in, Mercedes withdrew from motorsport at the end of the 1955 season as a result of the 1955 Le Mans disaster.

This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects a wonderful era of Mercedes‘ automotive history in a wonderful way.  This is your rare chance to own this photo. It has a nice large format of ca. 8" x 10" (ca. 20 x 30 cm).  It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.

Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!

 (Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)

No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.

All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes.

We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.

After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!

First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.