Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft
Mercedes 28/95 PS Sport short chassis (Coppa Florio)

Why it matters

Max Sailer's short-chassis conversion of the 7.2-litre 28/95 hp turned the flagship touring car into a competition car that finished second overall in the 1921 Targa Florio and won the 6 to 7.2-litre production class, earning the Coppa Florio. The version entered the factory range as the 28/95 hp Sport and led towards the supercharged K, S and SS models.

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

German makes could not enter the major international races after the First World War, so DMG looked to Italy and the USA. Paul Daimler and Max Sailer chose the 28/95 hp as a base because no car to the 3-litre Grand Prix formula existed. Sailer shortened the wheelbase from 3370 mm to 3065 mm, lowered the radiator and seating and added front inside shoe brakes for the 1800 kg car.

Otto Salzer set best time at the Zbraslav hill climb in May 1921, and four days later Sailer finished second overall at the Targa Florio, about two minutes behind the winner, and won the Coppa Florio. In April 1922 a supercharged version giving 140 hp/103 kW was only sixth in the Targa Florio.

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.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The Sport differs from the standard 28/95 hp by the wheelbase of 3065 mm instead of 3370 mm, a radiator positioned further back and lower, a lowered seat position, a flatter steering column and radially ribbed inside shoe brakes on the front axle. The 7.2-litre six has an overhead camshaft and V-position valves; after the war the cylinders were cast in pairs and the valves enclosed under three light-alloy covers.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Mercedes 28/95 hp, 1921 Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)

   • 7.2-litre six-cylinder unit with overhead camshaft and V-shaped overhead valves
   • 7.2-litre six-cylinder unit
   • specifications varied between 99 hp/73 kW and 110 hp/81 kW
   • rated engine speeds were between 1800 rpm and 2000 rpm
   • radially ribbed inside shoe brakes on the front axle
   • shorten the wheelbase to 3065 mm
   • essential for a 1800 kg car

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   1924 Mercedes 28/95 Sport Phaeton by Sindelfingen (Monterey 2011) Level C RM Sotheby's

   • 7,280 cc SOHC inline six-cylinder engine

   Accessed 2026-11-12