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Topic starter
23/10/2023 5:24 pm
In 1955, Juan Fangio drove this #18 Mercedes-Benz W196 Streamliner to a win at Monza. It got there via the factory Renntransporter known as the "Blue Wonder". The high speed transporter was a one-off hauler from their Test Department designed by, who else?, Rudi Uhlenhaut. The 3 liter fuel injected 6 came out of a 1952 W194 SL and was painted in Mercedes Royal Blue. It was small enough truck to handle country and narrow city roads and powerful enough to hit 100 mph. Left to rot when Mercedes quit racing after that horrible accident at Le Mans that year, it was scrapped in 1967. Realizing their mistake, they began to recreate it in 1993 with no plans or schematics existing as this was a back room project by Uhlenhaut. 6000 hours went into the build and the completed "Blue Wonder" was unveiled at Goodwood in 2001.
23/10/2023 6:10 pm
It is a remarkably cool and good-looking truck and model and glad to see M-B have re-done the1:1 ! Who does each of these replicas, Rich ?
John Kuvakas and Christopher Moroni reacted
23/10/2023 6:31 pm
Thanks Rich. This is a very nice pictorial post about my favourite truck. Looks magnificent!
Topic starter
23/10/2023 6:38 pm
@mikedetorrice If you had to guess.... I'd hazard CMC.
John Kuvakas and Christopher Moroni reacted
23/10/2023 7:19 pm
Left to rot when Mercedes quit racing after that horrible accident at Le Mans that year, it was scrapped in 1967. Realizing their mistake, they began to recreate it in 1993
I remember being shocked that M-B had to recreate this truck because they, themselves, no longer had blueprints, drawings, etc... How could this be?
But when Ford celebrated 100 years, they wanted 6 brand new Model Ts built.... and they had to X-ray original engine blocks to ensure quality replication. Factory blueprints were not available or reliable.
Great looking and great history regarding this M-B hauler.
Steve Jacobs and John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
23/10/2023 7:53 pm
@chris It was a request from race team manager Alfred Neubauer for Uhlenhaut to build him a high speed transport so there were no real blue prints. It was built just for that year and not to be produced in any number but one. A good part of the truck was scavenged from race cars and sedans. The truck was literally 'tinkered' together. The bodywork design was probably scribbled on a napkin or something like that.
23/10/2023 10:35 pm
In all cases, it looks remarkable as a real transported and as a CMC replica. Driving it must have been an experience ! 
John Kuvakas reacted