The Mercedes-Benz W 01 was planned as the Type 5/25 PS, a small six-cylinder car to be shown with Porsche’s W 02 and W 03 at the Berlin motor show in October 1926. It never went into production.
Mercedes-Benz W 01 at a glance
| Planned | Type 5/25 PS, for the Berlin show of October 1926 |
|---|---|
| Related designs | W 02 two-litre and W 03 three-litre, all by Porsche |
| Engine | side-valve six-cylinder, 1,392 cc |
| Power | 25 PS (18.4 kW) |
| Top speed | 88 km/h in third gear |
| Prototypes | eight, as two-door tourers and two-door saloons |
| Axles | rigid, on semi-elliptic leaf springs |
| Brakes | cable-operated on all four wheels |
| Designer | Ferdinand Porsche |
| Alternative | 1928 four-cylinder 1.3-litre, 28 test cars |
| Outcome | never produced in series |
This article is based on one source, the German Wikipedia article on the W 01. Free photographs of the W 01 were not available, so the record keeps its earlier picture.
History of the Mercedes-Benz W 01
The W 01 was one of three Porsche designs with six-cylinder engines, alongside the two-litre W 02 and the three-litre W 03, prepared for the Berlin automobile exhibition in October 1926. Management judged a six-cylinder engine in the smallest capacity class as unlikely to succeed, and the presentation was postponed.
Eight prototypes were built, some as two-door tourers and some as two-door saloons. The side-valve six-cylinder engine of 1,392 cc produced 25 PS (18.4 kW) and gave a top speed of 88 km/h in third gear. The driven rigid rear axle ran on longitudinal semi-elliptic leaf springs like the front axle, and the car had cable-operated brakes on all four wheels. The six-cylinder engine, far too expensive for this class, earned Ferdinand Porsche his first rebuke from the board, which demanded a cheaper engine.
A new Type 5/25 PS with a four-cylinder engine followed in 1928, and 28 test cars were built. A lack of money for expanding the production facilities meant that this 1.3-litre car was not built in series either. In the end Mercedes-Benz abandoned the small-car class at that time and only returned to it in 1931 with the six-cylinder 170 (W 15) and in 1934 with the four-cylinder rear-engined 130 (W 23).
Design and features
- Small six: a 1,392 cc side-valve six of 25 PS.
- Prototype only: eight cars, never a production model.
- Leaf-spring chassis: rigid axles front and rear.
- Cable brakes: acting on all four wheels.
Mercedes-Benz W 01 versions
- W 01 six-cylinder: eight prototypes.
- Type 5/25 PS four-cylinder (1928): 28 test cars.
The W 01 came long before the small Mercedes classes that began with the 170 family and the rear-engined 130. More in the Mercedes-Benz collection.
Sources
- Mercedes-Benz W 01, German Wikipedia: project, engine, prototypes, outcome
