What is it? Quiz #393

Benz Tropfenwagen Grand Prix 1923

I have previously been a winner of 2 quizzes, and I assume the final posting date of April 13th is a misprint. Here is my answer for quiz #393.

n 1923 Benz took the unprecedented step of assuming that aerodynamics should dictate the design of a grand prix car. Their chief engineer Hans Nibel designed this Benz Tropfenwagen with a 2 litre 6 cylinder engine for the 1923 Monza Grand Prix where it placed 4th driven by Franco Minoia. Nibel was assisted in the design by Ferdinand Porsche who is seen driving the car in this publicity photograph. At the same time pictures were taken of the car in road trim with the object of production, but company finances and the potential merger with Mercedes precludes further development.

1923 Benz Tropfenwagen (Teardrop car). Developed under engineer Hans Nibel to determine the market's response to a mid-engine car.

This is the 1923 Benz RH-Wagen also known as Tropfenwagen which has been built using a license by Rumpler. 4 cars of this 2 Liter, 6 cyl 80 - 90 HP has been built.
They have been an inspiration for the later Auto Union GP Wagen which has been initiated by Adolf Rosenberger who drove the RH-Wagen for racing.

1922 Benz Tropfenrennwagen based on Edmund Rumpler's ideas and constructed under Hans Nibel's supervision. The car had a rear mounted 2 litre twin-cam six cylinder rollerbearing engine with twin Zenith carburetters producing 80bhp @4,500 rpm with a top speed of 160kph. Weight 750kg. Fixed front axle and the rear was swing axle type.Gearbox was a three speed. Three cars were built with Hoerner and Minoia fourth and fifth in the 1923 Italian GP at Monza, Walb retiring.
Some of the men from the Tropfenrennwagen project ended up on the Porsche design team.

I won two competitions previously.
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Quizz 393 is a 1923 GP Benz Tropfenwagen, devised by Willy Walb.
6-cylinder,1998 cc (65 mm, stroke 100 mm), 95 hp at 5000 rpm, two overhead camshafts, motor mounted rear position with extra cooling radiator fitted on the body, rear suspension swing axles and brakes suspended.
Petrol tank in the nose.
4-speed gearbox, weight 745 kg, max speed 185 kph
Continental Cord tyre (28x3,5 front and 29x4 rear)
It seems to me that I see what could be the shadow of the right side external radiator, and the rear wheel seems to be with the “inside“ version of the drum's brake (so before 1924)
Three cars were present at Monza in 1923 with drivers Minoia (finished 4th), Horner (5th) and Walb (retirement). May be the picture was take there ?

I won 2 time before.

It's a Benz Tropfenwagen, at Monza for it's unveiling. They also appeared in an interesting winged state at 1925 Solitude as seen here. http://austinharris.co.uk/photo/1925-solitude-race-meeting/1892

Fascinating car!

What is it Quiz #393
1923 Benz Type RH Tropfenwagen,
(First) Rennwagen mit Heckmotor (‘racing car with rear engine’).
It used the virtually unchanged Rumpler chassis.
Fitted with a 1,991 cc (121.5 cu in) DOHC inline six (4 valves per cyl) producing 80 hp (60 kW) (at only 750 kg) and demonstrated "impeccable roadholding" at 90 mph (140 km/h) and above.
It was fitted with wings and headlights to make it street legal.
Based on Rumplers concept design patent, the brainchild of Benz chief Engineer Hans Nibel, devised by Willy Walb for Benz, after investigation of the 1921 Rumpler rear-engined chassis,co designed by Ferdinand Porsche (disputed), it was first seen at the 1923 European Grand Prix at Monza, driven by Walb himself (dnf), Franz Homer (5th), and Fernando Minoia (4th).
The cars performed well in Hill Climbs,
Horner being placed 3rd, at Solitude in 1924,
Walb winning the Konigstuhl event with a sports-version, and at Freiberg in 1925. Rosenberger was fastest at Herkules.
These Benz also did well at the races held to open Opel's new test-track,
Tiglees winning at a record 79 mph. over ten laps,
Stuart (Jurymember)

I AM A JURY MEMBER!

The car is one of four mid-engined (1,991 cc DOHC straight six, 80 hp)) Benz RH Tropfenwagen, (“drop car” reflecting the shape, RH being “Rennwagen mit Heckmoror”, i.e. racing car with rear engine) designed by Benz chief engineer Hans Nibel, following acquisition of a Rumpler licence in 1992, on a virtually unchanged Rumpler Tropfenwagen (as used in Frotz Lang’s Metropolos) chassis. Debuting at the 1923 European Grand Prix at Monza with a fourth and a fifth, the cars handled extremely well but were uncompetitive and were dropped after three years. The basic design was used later by Auto Union.

1923 Benz RH "Tropfenwagen" at Monza 9th September 1923. RH stands for Rennwagen mitt Heckmotor, racing car with rear-engine. In the cockpit Willy Walb, future Reinleiter of Auto-Union team in the 30s. He retired quite early due engine problems at this only Grand Prix for the Tropfenwagen, the two others were 4th respectively 5th before beeing wayed off
It was the Berlin Benz agent Walb who talked over the company management to build the Rumpler-inspired racer.

I have won twice the Prewar quitz and once the Postwar.

The car is the 1922 Benz RH, a 2 litre racer nicknamed the teardrop car (Tropfenwagen), although the RH nomenclature is probably from Rennwagen Heckmotor, (rear engined race car).
4 were built and their debut was at the 1923 Italian Grand Prix at Monza where three entered and 2 finished (4th & 5th, albeit flagged off at the end). Later they competed in hillclimbs and local German events driven mainly by Willy Walb and Adolf Rosenberger- the former winning FTD at the 1924 Königstuhl and the 1925 Hohentwiel hillclimbs, and the latter winning the Tropfenwagen's final race, the Rund um die Solitude in May 1925

Benz licenced the concept from Dr Rumpler for a road-going car but adapted the principle for this straight 6 2 litre under the guidance of chief engineer Hans Nibel. Although the car was fundamentally unsuccessful due to its limited engine power, it handled very well and was a key step in introducing independent suspension into racing cars. Nibel himself was a key play in the design of the most important Benz & Mercedes racecars such as the Blitzen and the W25 before his death in 1934.

Benz Tropfenwagen, Benz and Cie built the first tropfenwagen after a licence from Rumpler and the chief technician Hans Niebel decided to build another type after incorporating own ideas. The picture shows a 1923 tropfenwagen or RH wagen, one of 4 built, straight six middle engine with 80 to 90 horsepower, 2 liter displacement. Did participate in some races, first race sept 1923 Monza coming in at 4th and 5th place.
Layout was used later on in the silverarrows from autounion and mercedes

Benz Tropfenwagon (Teardrop car) Racer 1923.
A team of 3 of these cars was entered for the 1923 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.Photo taken during testing.

1923 Benz Tropfenwagen

Benz Grand Prix car 1923
rear engine design Dr. rumpler

A car that was in the very first car book I bought myself in 1986.
More info here:
http://www.grandprixhistory.org/trop.htm

1923 Mercedes-Benz Benz Rennwagen Heckmotor better known as Tropfenwagen ("Teardrop car").
Designed by Ferdinand Porsche under the watchful eye of chief engineer, Hans Nibel, the car featured a 1991cc 6 cylinder engine with twin over head camshafts. It produced 85 bhp at 4,500 rpm which propelled the car to a top speed of 100 mph.
In essence, this car was the forerunner to todays modern, mid engine racing cars and made its debut a decade before another one of Porsche's famous mid engine designs, the Auto Union V16's of the 1930's. The Benz Rennwagen Heckmotor made its racing debut at the 1923 Italian Grand Prix, where it finished 4th and 5th, driven by Homer and Minoia. One other vehicle, driven by Walb retired early. This was the best result achieved by the cars and their team over 3 years of racing, when it was withdrawn due to financial difficulties being experienced at the Benz factory prior to its merger with Daimler in 1927. I don't believe any examples survive today.

This is a benz troppfenwagen with rear engine. I have just found one a month ago and will start restauration soon and i am interested in information how many was made i only know what Wikipedia says thanks / anders

It's a 1923 Benz Type RH "Tropfenwagen", one of 4 built using Edmund Rumpler's licence.

1923 Benz "Teardrop" aerodynamic race car introduced at the 1923 European Grand Prix at Monza.