The Blitzen Benz is a race car built by Benz & Cie in Mannheim, Germany, in 1909. In 1910 an enhanced model broke the world land speed record. It was one of six cars based on the Grand Prix car, but it had an enlarged engine, 21,504 cm3 (1,312.3 in3), capacity 185 mm × 200 mm (7.28 in × 7.87 in) with 200 hp (149.1 kW), inline-four and improved aerodynamics.

Blitzen Benz
Overview
ManufacturerBenz & Cie
Production1909
AssemblyMannheim, Germany
Body and chassis
ClassRacecar
Body styleRoadster
LayoutFront engine, rear-wheel drive Dual-chain drive[1]
Powertrain
Engine21,504 cm3 (1,312.3 in3) I4[1]
Transmission4-speed manual gate-type shift[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,800 mm (110.2 in)[2]
Length4,820 mm (189.8 in)[2]
Width1,600 mm (63.0 in)[2]
Height1,280 mm (50.4 in)[2]
Curb weight1,450 kg (3,196.7 lb)[2]

History

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Of the six Blitzen Benzes ever made, only two survive—Mercedes-Benz owns one, while the other belongs to an American collector.[3]

 
Blitzen Benz 4

At Brooklands on 9 November 1909, land speed racer Victor Hémery of France set a record with an average speed of 202.7 kilometres per hour (126.0 mph) over a kilometre.

 
Rear view

At Brooklands on 24 June 1914, land speed racer British driver Lydston Hornsted, in Blitzen Benz No 3, set a record with an average speed of 200.7 kilometres per hour (124.7 mph) with 2 runs over a 1-mile course, under the new regulations of the Association International des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR).[4]

 
A 1909 Benz 200 Blitzen Benz

On 23 April 1911, Bob Burman recorded an average of 228.1 kilometres per hour (141.7 mph) over a full mile at Daytona Beach,[5] breaking Glenn Curtiss's unofficial absolute speed record, land, sea or air, set in 1907 on his V-8 motorcycle.[6] Burman's record stood until 1919.[5]

After 1914 the car was rebuilt for circuit racing, undergoing a number of revisions before it was broken up in 1923.[5]

 
A 1909 Benz 200 Blitzen Benz at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Technical Data

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Benz Racing car engine
Working process Four-stroke Otto
Cylinders 4 / in-line
Displacement 21,504 cm³
Bore × stroke 185 × 200 mm
Power 200 hp at 1600 rpm
Torque over 875 Nm
Compression ratio 1:5.8
Maximum speed 1650 rpm
Valves hanging, 2 per cylinder, side camshaft, drive via gears
Mixture preparation 1 horizontal round slide carburetor
Fuel supply Pneumatic hand pump, operated by the passenger
Lubrication Initially splash lubrication, later pressure circulation lubrication via gear pump and fresh oil addition
Starter Starting crank, starter buzzer ignition
Ignition High-voltage magneto ignition, 2 Bosch D4 magnetos
Ignition adjustment by hand using a lever on the steering wheel
Fuel tank 73 l

References

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  1. ^ a b c "1910 Benz 200HP Blitzen-Benz Specifications". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e "1909 Benz 200HP Blitzen-Benz Specs". carsession.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  3. ^ "The Blitzen-Benz". AutoSpeed. No. 360. December 6, 2005. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Northey, Tom (1974). "Land Speed Record: The Fastest Men on Earth". Tom Northey. World of Automobiles. Vol. 10 (London: Orbis), pp.1163.
  5. ^ a b c "The fastest car in the world: the 228.1-km/h "Blitzen-Benz"". Daimler AG. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  6. ^ Paul Garson (September 15, 2010). "Top 10 Weirdest Custom Motorcycles; Dimensionally challenged motorcycle mavericks". Motorcycle.com.

See also

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