The design took advantage of the Type 680’s low slung chassis and did without running boards. In Paris, Jaques Saoutchik created easily his most striking pre-war car on the 680 S-type chassis. He used exotic materials such as Purpleheart wood trim and lizard-skin upholstery. Saoutchik was probably the only independent body builder that could rival the best from Mercedes. Saoutchik described the car as ‘Torpedo-Sport 4 places, J.Saoutchik, type Cannes’.Īt the time Mercedes-Benz had their own Sindelfingen factory for producing bodywork which was generally superior to anything else on the market. Torpedo Roadster by Saoutchickįortunately, some customers agreed to order Mercedes-Benz’s finest chassis to send it to Carrosserie J. The first major modification was made to the engine which was enlarged in 1928 to 7.0 liters for the 700 SS then 7.1 for the 710 SS, but the definitive version was the shortened 720 SSK which is a holy grail of car among car collecting.
The 680 evolved over the year, getting lighter and more powerful. The race cars are easily identified as they have simple cycle-fendered bodies almost always painted in white while every road car was different. However, since the chassis was relatively simple and robust, Mercedes-Benz made road-going bodies, and sometime shipped bare chassis to be re-bodied by a company of the customer’s choice.
#Auto ordnance 1927 review drivers#
These cars were initially campaigned by the factory and driven by famous drivers such as Rudolf Caracciola who won the 1927 Nurburgring race with one. In race tune the engine was up to 26/170/225. When engaged, the 120 bhp suddenly became 180 bhp (hence the old 26/120/180 nomenclature). This was the existing SOHC 6.3-liter six-cylinder engine enlarged to 6.8 liters and fitted with a supercharger that only spooled up at high throttle.
#Auto ordnance 1927 review series#
The 680 Type-S was the first of this series which would mature into a legendary line of racecars that had little comparable competition until years later.Īlongside the earlier Mercedes cars like the 400 and 630, the new 680 S featured a lower chassis, which meant its heavy engine could be pushed back and down in the engine bay. They were based on the heavy and powerful M06 engine designed by Ferdinand Porsche and became known as the White Elephants for their brute force. Soon after the merger of Mercedes and Benz, the two started developing the world’s fastest sports cars.
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