Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › Type S (26/120/180 PS, 680 S) · Rare production · 1927–1928 Extremely Rare

Mercedes-Benz
Type S (26/120/180 PS, 680 S)

Supercharged 6.8-litre sports car, base of the S/SS/SSK/SSKL line

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ TYPE S (26/120/180 PS, 680 S) 1927–1928
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
146BuiltFactory reported
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
146 Built
Years
1927–1928
Engine
Supercharged inline six-cylinder · 6,800 cc / 6.8 LFactory: 6,800 cc
Power
132 kW / 179 PSFactory: 132 kW
Top speed
160 km/hFactory: 160 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Ferdinand Porsche
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Type S was the first of the supercharged Mercedes-Benz S-series sports cars and the platform from which the SS, SSK and SSKL were developed. Only 146 were built in 1927–1928.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityExtremely Rare 146 · Built1,2
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
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 productionunits produced 1461,2 Factory production Factory reported

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

History

Built from 1927 to 1928, the Type S used a 6.8-litre in-line six with a Kompressor supercharger, rated at 132 kW at 3,000 rpm and good for 160 km/h. Its platform, attributed to Ferdinand Porsche, was the basis for the larger-engined SS and the shortened SSK that followed.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Type S (26/120/180 PS, 680 S).

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 061
LayoutSupercharged inline six-cylinder3 Independently researched
Cylinders61
Displacement 6,800 cc / 6.8 LFactory: 6,800 cc3 Independently researched
Bore 98 mmFactory: 98 mm1
Stroke 150 mmFactory: 150 mm1
Compression ratio4.7:11Competition engine 5.5:1 (170 hp without, 225 hp with supercharger).
ValvetrainOne overhead camshaft driven by vertical shaft; 1 intake and 1 exhaust valve per cylinder1
Fuel system2 Mercedes-Benz updraught annular-float carburettors1
InductionEngageable Roots supercharger1
Power 132 kW / 179 PSFactory: 132 kW3 Independently researched
Power at 3,000 rpm3 Independently researched
Torque 431 Nm / 44 kgmFactory: 44 kgm1Archive unit "mkg".
Torque at 1,850 rpm1

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed manual change-speed gearbox, dry multi-disc clutch, cardan shaft1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI. 3.15; II. 1.81; III. 1.21; IV. 1.01
Final drive2.76 (also 2.50 or 3.09)1
Driven wheelsRear wheels1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisU-section pressed-steel frame, cranked over both axles1,4
Front suspensionRigid axle with semi-elliptical springs1
Rear suspensionRigid axle with underslung semi-elliptical springs1
BrakesMechanical, on front and rear wheels; mechanical handbrake on rear wheels1
SteeringWorm-and-nut, left or right-hand drive1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 3,400 mmFactory: 3,400 mm1
LengthNot yet verified
Width 1,700 mmFactory: 1,700 mm1
Height 1,800 mmFactory: 1,800 mm1
Front track 1,425 mmFactory: 1,425 mm1
Rear track 1,425 mmFactory: 1,425 mm1
Kerb weight 1,900 kgFactory: 1,900 kg1Tourer body; cabriolet 2000 kg. Chassis weight 1450 kg.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 160 km/hFactory: 160 km/h3 Independently researched
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tank 120 LFactory: 120 L1
Fuel consumption 26 L/100kmFactory: 26 L/100km1Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 26 l (archive figure, basis not stated)

“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 Type S keeps the 3400 mm wheelbase of the Model K, but the engine sits about 300 mm further back and low between deeply cranked frame rails, giving a lower bonnet and radiator than the SS: RM describes a seven-tier radiator and a bonnet 3.5 inches lower than the SS, which has an eight-tier radiator. The engine is the M 06 six with 98 x 150 mm bore and stroke (6.8 litres), wet cylinder liners, two updraught carburettors and dual ignition. Frames are U-section pressed steel with rigid axles on semi-elliptical springs. Factory commission paperwork exists for many cars, and the road-going 26/120/180 hp engine (compression 4.7:1) differs from the competition version with 5.5:1.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    S 26/120/180 hp / W 06, 1927 - 1928 (Classic M@RS) Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Classic M@RS, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive)
    • Units produced : 146
    • Engine type : M 06 (Technical data)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 6 / in-line (Technical data)
    • Bore x Stroke : 98 x 150 mm (Technical data)
    • Compression ratio : 4.7 (Technical data)
    • 1 intake, 1 exhaust / vertical, overhead ... vertical shaft (Technical data)
    • 2 Mercedes-Benz updraught annular-float carburettors (Technical data)
    • carburettor engine with engageable Roots supercharger (Technical data)
    • Rated torque : 44 mkg at 1850 rpm (Technical data)
    • 4-speed manual transmission ... dry multi-disc clutch (Technical data)
    • Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (Technical data)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.15; II. 1.81; III. 1.21; IV. 1.0 (Technical data)
    • Final drive ratio : 2.76; 2.50 or 3.09 (Technical data)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Technical data)
    • Frame design : U-section pressed-steel frame (Technical data)
    • Front springs : semi-elliptical springs (Technical data)
    • Rear springs : underslung semi-elliptical springs (Technical data)
    • mechanical, acting on front- and rear wheels (Technical data)
    • worm-and-nut steering, left or right-hand (Technical data)
    • Wheelbase : 3400 mm (Technical data)
    • Width : 1700 mm (Technical data)
    • Height : 1800 mm (Technical data)
    • Front / rear track : 1425 / 1425 mm (Technical data)
    • Kerb weight : tourer: 1900 kg; cabriolet: 2000 kg (Technical data)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 120 l (Technical data)
    • Fuel consumption : 26 l (Technical data)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Mercedes-Benz History: The Super Sport Short Level C eMercedesBenz
    • 6-cylinder, in-line ... with Kompressor supercharger
    • displacement 6800 cc
    • 132 kW at 3000 rpm
    • Top speed: 160 km/h
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  4. 4
    Mercedes-Benz Type S, 1927 - 1928 (Classic M@RS) Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Classic M@RS, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive)
    • offsets on both longitudinal members ... reinforced on front and rear axles
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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