Chassis No. 50138

Engine No. 50138

Unveiled in its pristine, bare chassis form, the Mercedes-Benz 460 Nürberg captivated onlookers more than any other at the motor show in London in 1928. Surrounded by the distinguished company of Mercedes-Benz models like the six-cylinder K Cabriolet, a Pullman Limousine, and an eight-cylinder supercharged Grand Prix racer, the Nürburg 460 Sport Roadster's steely frame was a standout at the 1928 Olympia Motor Exhibition in London. Its debut marked the introduction of the all-new four-liter straight-eight Nürburg model to the public.

Chassis number 50138, a right-hand drive model, was among the initial chassis produced in the Nürburg series, a line aiming for mid-tier luxury. Distinct from the Stuttgart and Manheim models, named after their production cities, and the S, SSK, and SSKL series, known for their chassis designs, the Nürburg was named in honor of the Nürburgring racing circuit. Utilizing this famed German Grand Prix track for rigorous testing, the factory put the 460 straight-eight through an arduous thirteen day nonstop endurance test, covering 20,000 kilometers at an average speed of 64 kilometers per hour. This groundbreaking 311 hour trial set new records in duration and distance for a stock car, leading Daimler-Benz Auto Group to christen the model "Nürburg", also known as the 18/80.

This chassis is crafted from pressed steel in a drop frame design and has a 3,670 mm wheelbase. The 460 boasted a narrow four foot, nine inch track, stretching to a total length of 16 feet, three inches. Its construction included rigid front and rear axles, supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs and Houdaille shock absorbers. The vehicle was equipped with four-wheel Bosch-Dewandre mechanical brakes, enhanced by a vacuum servo system, automatic central chassis lubrication, an engine-driven tire pump, and the option of wooden or wire-spoke wheels with Rudge hubs.

Under the hood, the 460's side valve straight-eight engine, a non-supercharged unit developed by Ferdinand Porsche, mirrored the success of the two-liter straight-eight Grand Prix engine. With a 4,622 cc displacement it generated 80 horsepower at 3,200 rpm (90 horsepower as per British sales literature). Its smooth operation is ensured by a 5:1 compression ratio, a crankshaft with nine main bearings, and a vibration damper. The powertrain comprises a multi-plate clutch and a four-speed transmission. Mounted on 6.50 x 20 tires, its top speed hovers around 70 miles per hour. The 460 Nürburg (W08) saw production from 1928 to 1933, with 1,508 chassis produced. It underwent several updates, and in 1931, the larger five-liter Nürburg 500 was launched. The 1928 and 1929 Type 460 models primarily featured bodies of four or six-seat limousines, open tourers, or cabriolets, making a sports roadster like this an increasingly rare find.

The unique coachwork of this chassis is attributed to Schneider & Kort, a relatively obscure German coachbuilder; Schneider & Kort badges are affixed to the body. While not much is known about the early days of this Mercedes' life, it is believed to have been in Australia from the early 1930s, before being purchased in 1961 by Edward Du Cros, a retired automotive journalist, amateur racer, and grandson of William Harvey Du Cros, a financial backer of Dunlop. The Du Cros family were the Fords of Great Britain, partially responsible for establishing Swift, Austin, and Napier and helping to form what eventually became the British Motor Corporation. Edward Du Cros's father was also the first Mercedes-Benz dealer in England.

When Edward purchased the 460 Sport Roadster, he nicknamed it "Jenatzy" after Camille Jenatzy, winner of the 1903 International Gordon Bennet Races and a family friend. A pioneer in vintage racing, Du Cros campaigned in the car in Australia throughout the 1960s. In 1963 Lord Montagu and his museum creator, Michael Sedgwick, drove the car while visiting Du Cros. Retired from competition in 1969, the car was sold to M.W. Robinson in Sidney. Robinson traded it shortly thereafter to an American collector, and it later found a home in Mark Bedsole's collection in the late 1970's, before being acquired by Dr. Richard Lisman of New York City. In 1991 the Roadster underwent a complete restoration at Phil Hill's firm Hill & Vaughn in Marina Del Rey, California, and also that year appeared as the subject of an article by Mercedes-Benz historian and author Dennis Adler. Acquired by its present owner in the early 1990s, the Mercedes was shipped to Japan, where it has lived for the last three plus decades. Today, after being off the radar for quite a number of years, this rare 460 Nürburg Sport Roadster presents a fascinating subject for further research and historical exploration, while also affording its new owner a tantalizing entry to many of the world's finest historic motoring shows and events.