Mercedes Simplex
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| Wheelbase | 3.54 m |
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| Weight | 1,250/1,400 kg (1902-1909) |
| Cylinders | 4 in-line |
| Displacement | 5315 cc/9236 cc (1902 to 1909) |
| Top Speed | 80 km/h (1902) |
| World record speed | 97.25 mph (1904) |
| Rated Output | 41.7 hp at 1050 rpm (1902) |
| Transmission | 4-forward/1-reverse |
| Wheels | Not removable, wooden spokes and steel rims (1902). Later cast steel spokes (1905). Pneumatic tires. |
The Mercedes Simplex was an automobile model produced, between the years 1902 and 1909, by the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG, Daimler Motor Society, a predecessor of Daimler-Benz and Daimler-Chrysler). It continued the use of Mercedes (car) as the new brand of DMG, rather than Daimler.
The Mercedes Simplex was designed by Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart, Germany. It featured high engine performance (40 to 60 hp), with overall stability granted at its large and wide body, with low center of gravity.
Its predecessor car, the Mercedes 35hp of 1901, had broke with the primitive automotive standards. Now, DMG and Maybach intended to improve that domestically: "comfort by means of simplicity", producing something Simplex.
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[edit] History
[edit] DMG, Maybach and Jellinek
The creation of the first automobile model Mercedes 35hp, predecessor of the Simplex of 1900, was due to DMG 's industrial might, the know-how of its industrial designer Wilhelm Maybach and Emil Jellinek's enthusiasm for Auto racing. Jellinek was DMG's broad agent down the eccentric French Riviera and prominent Austro-Hungarian consul. That car had resulted in the company's early boosting.
In 1902, Maybach decided to incorporate a series of modifications on the new Mercedes Simplex car, anticipating large numbers of sales also. Regarding their high society customary clients basically, the new Mercedes could be shown publicly so, while driving through the most traditional avenues in town or to picnic in a park.
[edit] Mercedes Simplex as racecar (1902)
When Jellinek received the first of his Simplex units, on 1 March 1902 at Nice, he rushed to inscribe those into his Mercedes race-team, competing in Nice-La Turbie Hillclimbing race. He defeated all its opponents again, setting new records also.
Also in 1902, in USA, a Mercedes Simplex won the 5-mile track race at Grosse-Pointe, Detroit.
In this groovy 1902 campaign, the third step involved William K. Vanderbilt Jr, US billionaire and racecar enthusiast (who created in 1904 the classically American Vanderbilt Cup). He had set several records already, with the previous Mercedes, in some of the most popular races around the turn of the century, usually long distance ones.
Now, with the Mercedes Simplex, Vanderbilt took part in the 600 mile race to Paris. Later, he broke all records in the Ablis to Chartres race with flying start, with a top-speed of 111.8 km/h. One of his Simplex units is the oldest surviving Mercedes car nowadays.
[edit] The German Emperor was a simple fan
Echoes Mercedes-Simplex 's prowesses were resonating all around the world. DMG obtained clients among the most important world social figures more than ever.
Meeting Maybach personally, at Berlin's automobile exhibition of 1903, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany expressed his admiration for the car. Congratulating him for all the achievements at the races, he contrasted these with car's name, commenting: "A truly beautiful engine you have here! But it's not as simple as that, you know."
 Official logo in the unit's radiator |
[edit] 1902-1909: Remarkable races
| Date | Event | Circuit | Driver | Country | Result | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 1902 | Frankfurt Circuit Race | Oberforsthaus | Wilhelm Werner | Germany | 1st | Mercedes Simplex 40hp |
| April 1, 1903 | Nice-La Turbie | Otto Hieronimus (Mercedes team) |
Germany | 1st | Mercedes Simplex | |
| April 1, 1903 | Nice-La Turbie | Wilhelm Werner (Mercedes team) |
Germany | 2nd | Mercedes Simplex | |
| April 1, 1903 | Nice-La Turbie | Count Zborowski | Poland | Crashed | Mercedes Simplex | |
| April 7, 1903 | Mile Race of Nice | Promenade des Anglais | Hermann Braun | Germany | 1st | Mercedes Simplex |
| May 25, 1904 | May Ostend (Belgium) | land speed | Pierre de Caters | Belgium | 97.25 mph (World record) |
Mercedes Simplex 90hp |
| June 19, 1904 | Frankfurt Circuit Race | Oberforsthaus | Willy Pöge | Germany | 1st | Mercedes Simplex 60hp |
[edit] Simplex Models
In 1903, Maybach designed a second version of the Mercedes Simplex, of 60 hp.
| Simplex Model | Starting | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| 40 hp, 26/45 hp | 1902 | 1910 |
| 28 hp, 21/35 hp | 1902 | 1909 |
| 20 hp | 1902 | 1903 |
| 18/22 hp | 1903 | 1904 |
| 60 hp, 36/65 hp | 1903 | 1909 |
| 18/28 hp | 1904 | 1906 |
[edit] Dimensions
Mercedes Simplex ' framework was long, wide and with low center of gravity; granting an improved stability at high speeds. The wheelbase was extended up to 2.45 meters (8'1").
Its carefully designed frame was made of pressed steel. The engine was welded onto it directly, remaining at low height thus.
Other general modifications reduced also the overall Simplex weight to 942 kg, assuring better results in racing also.
[edit] Axles
The original wheels, 1902, were wooden, with 12 non-removable spokes and pneumatic tires. Later, in 1905, the Mercedes Simplex pioneered cast-steel wheels.
The front and rear axles were modernized progressively, equalizing its radius towards 1909:
- 1902: 910x90-1020x120. Rear 10% bigger.
- 1909: 915x105-935x135. Roughly equalized.
Attached to these were the two powerful brake systems, one hand-operated and the other by foot:
- the main, handy brake one, acted on the rear wheels, with drum brakes
- the secondary, on chain drive's intermediate driveshaft
Both systems were water-cooled by a sprinkling system over hot zones when braking.
Both axles were rigid, featuring semi-elliptic springs. The steering-axles were located at the extremes, decreasing road roughness' transmission over driver's hands thus.
[edit] Drive system
Mercedes Simplex ' engine was mounted on the front axle crudely. The engine's power was concentrated in a sprocket flywheel, 60 cm of diameter, transmitting it to the rear driving by a long roller chain.
The gate gear manual gearbox featured four speeds and reverse, controlling a coil spring clutch acting on the flywheel system. A lever produced both declutching and deceleration together.
[edit] Engine
The engine produced 44 hp at 1300 rpm. Its four cylinders featured:
- water cooling
- lubrication by driver-controlled pressure
- were enlarged to 120-bore and 150-stroke
- valves timed by encapsulated camshaft mechanically
- engine displacement of 6786 cc
It used magneto electric-spark ignition system, with single spray-nozzle carburetor, for all cylinders; featuring a new atomization system, improved by preheating.
Mercedes Simplex 's engine started up by crank with decompressor.
Maybach's tubular honeycomb radiator is similar to the contemporary one, featuring a rectangular grill of 8,070 pipes of 6x6 mm, with square shape, improving airflow.
Originally, when launched in 1902, Mercedes Simplex omitted radiator's fan. A set of vanes mounted on the flywheel increased air-flow throughout engine/radiator's compartment, offsetting that. Albeit its total water capacity, 7 litres, was effectively smaller than the previous Mercedes model yet, by 2 litres.
Mercedes Simplex 's engine compartment was covered by metal sheets. Its chassis base was also covered, something imitated by many other car models later.
[edit] Trivia
- Between November 2005 and March 2006, the Mercedes-Benz Museum, built over the original site of the DMG Stuttgart-Untertürkheim factory of 100 years ago, exhibits 13 original Mercedes Simplex units. The oldest one is the mythical vehicle owned by Vanderbilt. Also, an Argentinian unit escorts it, preserving its specifically enlarged wheels, to drive over the muddy Pampas' roads. All 13 cars are functional, arriving after several annually nostalgic competitions like London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally and Gordon Bennett Revival.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mercedes Simplex off Battlefield 1918 mod [1] (German board)
