Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › Nürburg 460 (W 08) Pullman of Pope Pius XI · Royal, state & papal · 1930

Mercedes-Benz
Nürburg 460 (W 08) Pullman of Pope Pius XI

First Mercedes papal car: 4.6-litre straight-eight Pullman with an individual silk-brocade seat for the pontiff, modified for Pius XI in 1930

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ NÜRBURG 460 (W 08) PULLMAN OF POPE PIUS XI 1930
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
1BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
1 Built
Years
1930
Engine
8-cylinder in line; front, longitudinal; vertical · 4,622 cc / 4.6 LFactory: 4,622 cc
Power
59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted
Top speed
100 km/hFactory: 100 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Nürburg 460 handed to Pope Pius XI on 23 May 1930 is the start of the long relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Holy See. The Vatican Museums include it among the eight historic Mercedes-Benz cars in their 2026 exhibition on a century of papal transport, and the factory archive singles out Pius XI as one of a handful of VIP customers whose Nürburg received the Pullman body of the "Grand Mercedes".

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityOne-off 1 · Built1
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionindividual car (identity confirmed in Mercedes-Benz 'A Century of Popemobiles' exhibition) 11 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The Nürburg 460 was shown at the Paris Motor Show in October 1928 as the first series-built Mercedes-Benz with an eight-cylinder engine, and a low-frame chassis followed in autumn 1929. The archive records the 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (design name W 08) as built from 1929 to 1933, with 1,508 cars in total for the 460 and the short-wheelbase 460 K. A Pullman limousine on the standard chassis cost RM 15,000 according to the archive data page.

The Vatican Museums date the handover of the car to Pius XI to 23 May 1930 and show it in "A century of the Popemobile", a free exhibition in the Square Garden of the Vatican Museums running from 29 October 2026 to 28 January 2027. The archive does not describe this particular car beyond naming the pope among the customers who received the Pullman body.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Nürburg 460 (W 08) Pullman of Pope Pius XI.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 08/42Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Layout8-cylinder in line; front, longitudinal; vertical2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Cylinders82Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Displacement 4,622 cc / 4.6 LFactory: 4,622 cc2Archive gives a tax classification figure of 4592 cc. Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Bore 80 mmFactory: 80 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Stroke 115 mmFactory: 115 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Compression ratio5.0:1; from 1932: 5.752Source states: 5.0; from 1932: 5.75. Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Valvetrain1 intake, 1 exhaust / lateral, vertical; 1 lateral camshaft; camshaft drive: via spur gears2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Fuel system1 cross-draught carburettor Solex 40 MOHRT2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Power 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted2Rating: manufacturerFigure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Power at 3,400 rpm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Torque 237 Nm / 24.2 kgmFactory: 24.2 kgm2Archive states the value as "mkg" (kilogram-metres). Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Torque at 1,200 rpm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed manual transmission (add. overdrive optional); change-speed gear2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Gears42Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Gear ratiosI. 3.85; II. 2.30 (also 3.14); III. 1.58; IV. 1.0; S. 0.702Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Final drive5.30; 4.81 or 5.772Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Driven wheelsrear2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassissectional pressed-steel low-bed frame2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Front suspensionrigid axle; semi-elliptical springs2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Rear suspensionrigid axle; underslung semi-elliptical springs2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Brakesmechanical, with Bosch-Dewandre vacuum booster; acting on front- and rear wheels2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Steeringworm-and-nut steering, left-hand2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 3,670 mmFactory: 3,670 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Length 5,380 mmFactory: 5,380 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Width 1,820 mmFactory: 1,820 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Height 1,820 mmFactory: 1,820 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Front track 1,485 mmFactory: 1,485 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Rear track 1,485 mmFactory: 1,485 mm2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Kerb weight 2,250 kgFactory: 2,250 kg2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
Dry weight 1,650 kgFactory: 1,650 kg2Archive labels this "Chassis weigth" (bare chassis). Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.

Performance

Maximum speed 100 km/hFactory: 100 km/h2Figure is for the series 18/80 hp Nürburg 460 (W 08) as documented by the archive; the individual papal car is not separately documented.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified
Fuel consumption 25 L/100kmFactory: 25 L/100km2Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 25 l

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

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

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

The factory identifies the Pullman body as the distinguishing feature: for Pius XI the Nürburg was given the pullman body of the "Grand Mercedes" instead of the standard coachwork. The base chassis is the standard-wheelbase Nürburg 460 with a sectional pressed-steel low-bed frame, wooden-spoke wheels on 5 x 20 drop-centre rims, 6.50-20 tyres and an in-line eight of 4622 cc. The archive does not give chassis or engine numbers for this car.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Motor1 – Mercedes Popemobiles century exhibit Level C
    • 1 individual car (identity confirmed in Mercedes-Benz 'A Century of Popemobiles' exhibition)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    18/80 hp Nürburg 460 / W 08, 1929 - 1933 (Classic M@RS) Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Classic M@RS, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive)
    • Engine type : M 08/4 (Technical data)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 8 / in line (Technical data)
    • Total displacement : 4622 cc (tax classification: 4592 cc) (Technical data)
    • Bore x Stroke : 80 x 115 mm (Technical data)
    • Compression ratio : 5.0; from 1932: 5.75 (Technical data)
    • Number of valves / arrangement : 1 intake, 1 exhaust / lateral, vertical (Technical data)
    • Valve operation : 1 lateral camshaft (Technical data)
    • Fuel system : 1 cross-draught carburettor Solex 40 MOHRT (Technical data)
    • Rated output : 80 hp at 3400 rpm (Technical data)
    • Rated torque : 24.2 mkg at 1200 rpm (Technical data)
    • Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (add. overdrive optional) (Technical data)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.85; II. 2.30 (also 3.14); III. 1.58; IV. 1.0; S. 0.70 (Technical data)
    • Final drive ratio : 5.30; 4.81 or 5.77 (Technical data)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Technical data)
    • Frame design : sectional pressed-steel low-bed frame (Technical data)
    • Front-wheel suspension : rigid axle (Technical data)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : rigid axle (Technical data)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : mechanical, with Bosch-Dewandre vacuum booster; acting on front- and rear (Technical data)
    • Steering : worm-and-nut steering, left-hand (Technical data)
    • Wheelbase : 3670 mm (Technical data)
    • Length : 5380 mm (Technical data)
    • Width : 1820 mm (Technical data)
    • Height : 1820 mm (Technical data)
    • Front / rear track : 1485 / 1485 mm (Technical data)
    • Kerb weight : pullman saloon: 2250 kg; tourer: 2120 kg (Technical data)
    • Chassis weigth : 1650 kg (Technical data)
    • Maximum speed : 100 km/h (Technical data)
    • Fuel consumption : 25 l (Technical data)
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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