The Mercedes-Benz W 125 set a world speed record which is still valid today on 28 January 1938 on a public road between Frankfurt am Main and Darmstadt, Germany. A speed of 432.7km/h was achieved by Rudolf Caracciola, who at that time was the lead driver for the Mercedes-Benz racing department.

?Mercedes-Benz w 125 achieved extraordinary achievement for its time

To pull off a speed of precisely 432.692km/h over one kilometer with a flying start, the Mercedes-Benz was based on the all conquering W 125 Silver Arrow. It was not only equipped with a specially optimised 5.6-litre 12-cylinder engine with two superchargers, but also featured a flat, completely covered aerodynamic body with a wedge shape and tapered tail end.

Using a wind tunnel, engineers reduced the aerodynamic drag to an astounding coefficient value of 0.157. Engineers also used a radically scaled down air intake on the front end.

“Time and again our visitors talk about the spectacular presentation of the Mercedes-Benz W 125 record breaking car, which is hanging on a vertical wall. Together with six other record breaking vehicles, the streamlined car adds the impressive finishing touch to the high-bank curve in Legend Room 7‚ ‘Silver Arrows – Races and Records’. Acoustically, there is even an atmosphere similar to that found on the race track”, explained Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic.

The impressive record-breaking Mercedes-Benz W 125 is being showcased at the Mercedes-Benz Museum among six other record breaking cars.