Mercedes W196

Mercedes W 196

Car: Mercedes W196 / Engine: 8-Cylinder In-line / Maker: Mercedes-Benz / Bore X Stroke: 76 mm X 68.8 mm  / Year: 1954 / Capacity: 2,496 cc / Class: Formula 1 / Power: 257 bhp at 8,200 rpm / Wheelbase: 2350, 2210 and 2150 (Monaco) mm / Track: 1330 mm in front, 1358 mm rear / Weight: 650 kg (monoposto), 750 kg (streamline) / Tires: Tires were 6.00 x 16 front and 7.00 x 16 rear.

In 1954 Auto Union was now known as Audi and no longer racing. Alfa Romeo also was out of the picture but Maserati and Ferrari, building and racing his own cars were very much in.

The British teams were just beginning to make some noise. Mercedes-Benz’s re-entry into Grand Prix racing coincided with the establishment of new regulations that were heavily biased against supercharged engines which were limited to only 750 cc. After being dominated by Ferrari with cars that actually were developed to Formula 2 specifications it was hoped that the new regulations would entice other manufacturers to enter the fray. Mercedes set up a racing department headed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut while the race team was once again managed by the legendary Alfred Neubauer. The were Juan-Manuel Fangio and the Germans Karl Kling and Hans Hermann. In 1955 the lineup was bolstered when the young British sensation Stirling Moss joined the team.

One of the initial design goals or the new car was to maximize it’s drivability by providing as wide a power band as possible. Towards this end the new cars were powered by a normally aspired straight eight fitted with desmodromic valves and fuel injection. Using experience gained from their aero engines and in collaboration with Bosch, Mercedes built the first successful Grand Prix car to have fuel injection. Four camshafts operated 16 valves. Fuel provided by Esso, designated RD1 contained a witches brew of 45% benzol, 25% methyl alcohol, 25% high octane petrol, 3% acetone and 2% nitro-benzine. Power was controlled through a five speed gearbox that would prove to be a distinct advantage to their rivals four speed versions.