Keeping a Nose Ahead – Mercedes’ Push to the Line in ’55

To regular readers it is no surprise that I love a mystery to solve. A car that never raced. An avenue partially explored, that perhaps was ahead of its time.

I have spoken before of possibly my favourite Mercedes-Benz – certainly my favourite 300SL – the experimental W153 #11…

…and how it reminds me of the Porsche 959, from three decades later.

We’ve looked at the “lost Tripoli streamliner”. A set of W154 aero parts from 1938-40, that were separately photographed by Earl and Monkhouse in 1946-47. The whereabouts of which are currently unknown.

But what if I told you that in 1955 Mercedes-Benz continued their development push right up to the last Grand Prix they would contend? That their aero experiments previewed solutions from the 1960s & ’70s?

Hold on to your socks, racing geeks!

Say ‘hello” to the W196 Monza streamliners you never knew existed! This series of photographs – from the Mercedes-Benz Public Archive – are undated, but tagged as the ’55 Italian Grand Prix. My hunch is that they are from the extensive pre-event testing carried out on the new Monza layout – including the new banking.

There appears to be two designs being considered, and they look rather familiar to me. This first design hints at the 1960s? A curvaceous suggestion of the Porsche 904?

The second experimental nose… well, no doubt to me… this is a 1970 Matra-Simca MS650, no?

Of course, we know that Mercedes-Benz stuck with the more familiar streamliner and open-wheel W196 for the race at Monza, and duly secured their second World Drivers’ Championship. After this race they immediately left for Belfast, and a very important victory in the RAC Tourist Trophy. But, kudos to Mercedes-Benz. The Daimler board may have already cancelled the racing programme, but still they pushed extreme developments of their machines.

Two questions. One, rhetorical… what could Mercedes-Benz have achieved in 1956, ’57 with such a forward-thinking attitude? The second, a genuine question… if this is what we can find in the public archive, what does the Mercedes Museum have in storage? What do they have marked ‘Secret’?

About Author

Racing Daydreams

Colin Johnston is a complex case investigator who brings his professional skills to bear, together with his 40 years of study, in his role as motorsport historian and storyteller. Whether it is writing on this website & elsewhere, fact-checking & identifying historical events, curating social media, appearing on TV & podcasts, or acting as a consultant or advisor; Colin strives to share his experience & knowledge in the spirit of good-humour and generosity

See author's posts