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20/11/2006 10:14 pm
PICS: 1923 Benz Tropfenwagen and Adolf Rosenberger
As usual with history older than about 30 to 40 years, there are conflicting "facts" that are difficult to reconcile, and I for one am unable to tell which was the truth. The fact that one story appears more often than another is no reason to believe the more frequently seen version.
So it goes with the Adolf Rosenberger story. The Wikipedia info that he was arrested in 1935 and imprisoned in KZ Kislau but released 4 days later through the intervention of Porsche, is to a large extent contradicted by information I found on a forum on the internet. The source of the inform,ation being a well-known automotive writer Karl Ludvigsen, who states:
QUOTE
He died in California in 1968 as Alan Roberts, but I don't know his birth date. Based in Pforzheim, he was a successful businessman who took up motor sports in 1923-24, chiefly driving Mercedes and Benz cars. He was especially successful in the popular hillclimbs, although his was the crash on the Avus in 1926 that demolished a timing hut and killed two students therein.
When Porsche set up his own design studio in 1931 Rosenberger was his major financial backer and first business manager. He is also credited with influencing Porsche's choice of a rear-engined design for the Auto Union racing cars. In 1933 Rosenberger realised that jews would not be welcome in the New Germany and moved to France, where he continued to represent Porsche, and later to America, where he was successful in business and occasionally active in motor sports. Griff Borgeson interviewed him in 1952 but the chances of finding his notes are not great.
I'm in touch with someone who knew him and hope one day to find out more about his career.
We need to know more!
UNQUOTE
The Benz Tropfenwagen, a pre-Auto Union rear-engined design was driven in races by Rosenberger (among others), and there has even been a street version.
I know that the car exists as a 1:43 model, and I believce there are 2 versions. I have so far only seen the German model (not sure whether that was a Robert Budig or Tin Wizard production).
Some nice pictures here of the 1:1 car:
I love this stuff!
Arie
ariebras@planet.nl
21/11/2006 5:11 am
Arie - Great story, COOL pics, Thanks for the history lesson
I love this stuff too.
Cheers and Happy Researching,
Steve
21/11/2006 7:49 am
There she is! Great photos Arie. You find the most rare and unusual photos!
that's amazing. The model was made by Robin Housego in 1/43 scale a long time ago for the Langs. At least, as we were told. Cast by Western. We are proud and honored to have the built up that was in Mr. Housegos actual personal collection. i hope the fellow who sold it to us knows and rests assured that it is in a good and appreciative home and a pride and joy. And treated with the utmost respect. And hopefully, some day- will be put to a good use and shared with others of like mind. We may have to make it a little more modern standard. But we would never mess up the original flavor or damage or destroy the original piece.
This Benz Tropfenwagen is another one of those cars that belongs in the 'Great Firsts" Collection. It was one of the most influencial designs that ever was. It changed everything- although it may have taken years and years to do so. It finally sunk in for sure in 1959.
Thanks Arie. it's been a hoot. Great fun. I can't even tell you. A joy- like fresh air.
21/11/2006 12:23 pm
Strange the Cooper's did it all on a limited budget ......
in a garage in Surrey. With an engine that was orginally designed as a water pump for the fire service! The idea may have been sown with Mercedes and Auto Union but the Cooper GP cars actioned it with perfection. In todays GP scene it will never happen again. That is the unfortunate part that smaller entities will never be able to take on the big boys again let alone beat them!
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
21/11/2006 12:47 pm
Edit I love the story of the Cooper too. Agree about the modern times but I like to believe clever little underdogs can still change things and make a huge difference. I may be kidding myself on that though.
There they were, that tiny little funny looking car, on the grid with all the big teams with their powerful front engined beasts. And they were snickered at especially because in those days the trend had been moving toward bigger, more powerful cars. Rather than small, light, nimble cars. but what happened next was history. Then all the big teams had to go scrambling to keep up and rethink everything they had been doing. Great story.
a nice little Collection would have the Rumpler, the Benz, the Auto Union and the Cooper all on the same base. It could show the development of the idea that made such a giant difference in the auto industry. I smile to imagine it.
Edit* There were others who fiddled with the idea. Maybe I should count them too. But they didn't have much success. They just couldn't develop it as far as they needed. Or their efforts just kind of petered out and they returned to the conventional front engine affairs or just gave up. An example was a very forward, modern ( for it's day) little car that would have perhaps changed things much earlier was the Cisitalia that Arie mentioned.