back to blog overview
The Silver Arrow is an icon for all racing fans and beyond. In 1952 the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz decided to return to Grand Prix racing with these exact vehicles from 1954. To this end, not only a state-of-the-art racing car was to be developed, but also a corresponding transporter. Since the expensive and highly sensitive vehicles were no longer to be sent to the races under their own steam – as was still the case at the beginning of the 1950s – the development of a vehicle for transporting the Silver Arrows was on the agenda.
A racing transporter including workshop vehicle that was able to load all neccessary spare parts and utensils for the team around the racing cars was needed, and it had to be done quickly. The already existing racing department of Daimler-Benz got to work to build a suitable repair and workshop transporter parallel to the W196, which is so famous today.
The fastest racing transporter in the world from Mercedes-Benz was only called "The Blue Wonder". It had the original three-litre straight-six engine from the 300 SL. A unique piece that was second to none. With the extended X-tubular frame of the 300 S and components from the 180, the nimble van had a wheelbase of 3.05 meters and was therefore able to piggyback on the racing cars.
With a maximum speed of up to 170 kph, it was in no way inferior to the Silver Arrows, which he transported to various races and became the beloved star in every paddock. Due to the task to be performed by the "Blue Wonder" of transporting the precious freight, the powerful engine was throttled from 215 to 192 hp.
Wherever the blue Mercedes-transporter went, it was besieged and photographed. It was not only an absolute sensation at the races, but also on the streets and highways. Its color, its unique body shape, the racing cars as cargo and the speed with which it showed its rear end to almost every other vehicle on the Autobahn in the 50s made it the secret star of the Mercedes fleet.
Without the "Blue Wonder", Daimler-Benz's successful racing years of 1954 and 1955 might have been less impressive. The sports cars used on racetracks around the world were in their own league. Just like the pilots who took their place behind the wheel of the unpainted cars. Driver legends such as Sir Stirling Moss, Karl Kling and Juan Manuel Fangio could always rely on the fact that their vehicles were brought to the pits quickly and safely by the world's fastest transporter.
Despite all the special features, the original vehicle was scrapped in 1967 because it could not be exhibited in the Daimler-Benz AG museum for structural reasons. But by 2001, a true-to-original replica of the “Blue Wonder” was being made, which can now be admired in the museum in Stuttgart, along with the valuable cargo. The unique piece has now been produced by Werk83 true to the original and in the usual high quality on a scale of 1:18 and fits perfectly into every miniature museum at home. The blue celebrity transporter is even cheaper as a set and is available with different W196 silver arrows.
Set: Mercedes-Benz racing transporter Blue Wonder model year 1955 blue 1:18 with Mercedes-Benz W196 Werk83, RRP 189,90€, item-no.: W1801701
[16.12.2022] Norev remembers three limited-edition appearances of the Porsche 935 at Watkins Glen, Daytona and Dijon
[07.12.2022] Senna's World Champion-McLaren: Two models of the greatest ever
