Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft
Mercedes 140 hp Grand Prix racing car

Why it matters

The 1908 Mercedes Grand Prix car won the French Grand Prix at Dieppe with Christian Lautenschlager and placed Mercedes among the leaders against the French makes, who lost their domination of the event. The victory raised DMG's international reputation.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

History

The 1908 regulations capped bore at 155 mm and set a minimum weight of 1100 kg. DMG kept Maybach's 1903 four-cylinder IOE design and lengthened the stroke, building two engines: 170 mm stroke giving 12.8 litres and 130 hp, and 180 mm giving 13.5 litres and 138 hp.

In the race on 7 July 1908 Lautenschlager won in the car with the short-stroke engine after 6 hours 46 minutes and 11 wheel changes. Benz cars took second and third, Pöge was fifth and Salzer retired. Larger 15.4-litre variants were later used for hill climbs and record runs.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Mercedes 140 hp Grand Prix racing car, 1908 Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)

   • four-cylinder with IOE valve arrangement
   • four-cylinder
   • 180 mm at a good 13.5 litres
   • maximum bore of 155 mm imposed by the regulations
   • the other with 180 mm at a good 13.5 litres
   • larger engine delivered 138 hp/102 kW
   • both at a rated speed of 1400 rpm
   • wheelbase of 2690 mm

   Accessed 2026-11-12