Record-breaking Mercedes-Benz T 80 (1939) boasts 3500 horsepower for 650 km/hour speed record attempt
Mercedes-Benz T 80: The Unrealised Speed Record Pursuit
The Mercedes-Benz T 80, a legendary vehicle that was once slated to become the fastest car in the world, has a fascinating and tragic story. In 1940, Daimler-Benz AG requested the state for financial support of 600,000 Reichsmark to develop the T 80, with plans to break the speed record after the war. However, instead of financial aid, the regime demanded the return of the engine for the Luftwaffe, leading to the dismantling and storage of the T 80 for decades.
The T 80 faced numerous challenges during its development. One of the key issues was sourcing high-speed tires from German suppliers, which caused problems at high speeds. Despite these obstacles, the T 80 was designed with innovative features, such as a centrifugal clutch instead of a transmission, and a kind of traction control system to prevent the four rear drive wheels from spinning out.
The T 80 was an engineering marvel, boasting a 44.5-liter DB 603 engine with a supercharger, delivering a peak power of 3500 PS (2574 kW) at 3460 RPM. To keep the weight down, the T 80's tubular frame and aluminum body were half as heavy as its British rivals, with a 0.3 mm thinner aluminum body. The T 80 also had the distinction of being equipped with the more powerful engine, the DB 603 V12 aircraft engine.
The planned record run with the T 80 project was set to take place on a newly built stretch of Autobahn near Dessau. However, the hand-poured concrete median strip beyond 600 km/h would have been a deadly trap, foiling the plans for the speed run.
In 2006, the tubular frame and aluminum body of the T 80 found a permanent home in a Stuttgart exhibition, while the original chassis was restored by the brand in July 2018. Unfortunately, the most powerful Mercedes-Benz of all time, the T 80, will likely never be driven.
Despite the T 80's unrealised speed record pursuit, its story serves as a testament to the innovative spirit and engineering prowess of Mercedes-Benz during the 1940s. The T 80 stands as a reminder of what could have been, and a symbol of the challenges and sacrifices faced in the pursuit of speed and automotive excellence.
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