Mercedes-Benz 150 (W 30)

The Mercedes-Benz 150, internal type W 30, was the first mid-engined car of Daimler-Benz, built from 1934 to 1936. Six coupes were built for the 2,000 kilometre Deutschlandfahrt of 1934; Daimler-Benz called the type a sports saloon, probably for homologation reasons, and the cars had windows only in the front and the two doors. One of them took part in the Liege-Rome-Liege long-distance rally in August 1934. Roadsters on the same technical basis followed from 1935, some converted from coupes and some new. The two-seaters cost 6,600 reichsmark and, because the fuel tank sat in the front and left no luggage space, had little practical value, so fewer than twelve were made. The engine was a four-cylinder overhead-camshaft inline unit of 1,498 cubic centimetres and 55 horsepower, or 40 kilowatts, mounted lengthwise ahead of the rear axle, with a three-speed gearbox with overdrive and a top speed of 125 kilometres per hour. The only surviving roadster is in the Mercedes-Benz Museum.