Mercedes Benz

The racing “fintail” from Mercedes-Benz Classic for the 2012 season of historic motorsport events

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mercedes-Benz enjoyed much success in international endurance races and rallies. The period at the start of the 1960s was shaped above all by the 220 SE and 300 SE “fintail” saloons with six-cylinder engines.

To commemorate the motorsport successes of the period and to keep the tradition of the brand’s exceptional racing history alive while also making historic motorsport even more attractive for private drivers, Mercedes-Benz Classic reconstructed a type 220 SE “fintail” saloon (series W 111) in 2011, for use in historic motorsport events.

The car meets the regulations of the FIA International Sporting Code, Appendix K (FIA – Féderation Internationale de l’Automobile). The vehicle is used in particular for the Dunlop FHR long-distance cup held by the Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e. V. (FHR) – the world’s biggest historical long-distance racing series as per Appendix K.

In the 1960s, competition vehicles typically bore close resemblance to production models in terms of technology. The usual modifications included stiffer suspension elements and body components, a larger fuel tank and an engine performance tuned specifically for the intended use.

When building the 220 SE, Mercedes-Benz Classic also followed the requirement to design a powerful competition vehicle using near-standard technology. The Classic Centre specialists made the following detailed modifications to the production vehicle, amongst others: the interior now has a roll cage with quick-connect safety coupling for side-impact fasteners such as door crossbars and side impact protectors (Fix Opening and Closure Security System, FO-CS for short).

The fintail has also been equipped with a fire extinguishing system and a 100-litre FT3 safety tank. The car will soon feature 5½ x 15 rims with 6.00 x 15 racing tyres. And of course, the W 111 has also been painted in the classic DB 140 light-grey livery which adorned the competition vehicles from 1961 to 1964.

Vehicle data for Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111)

Engine: six-cylinder (in-line)
Bore x stoke: 80 x 72.8 millimetres
Displacement: 2195 cc
Performance: 120 hp (88 kW) at 4800 rpm
Max. torque: 19.3 mkg (189 newton metres) at 3900 rpm
Front axle: double wishbones, coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser, telescopic shock absorbers
Power transmission: via propeller shaft to the rear axle
Rear axle: single-joint swing axle with compensating spring, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers
Brake system: hydraulic brake system with brake booster
Front brakes: disc brakes, 253 millimetres in diameter
Rear brakes: duplex drum brakes with turbo-cooled Alfin drums, 230 millimetres in diameter
Transmission: 4-speed floor shift transmission
Clutch: dry single-disc clutch
Maximum speed: approx. 170 km/h

Credits: Daimler AG

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