A Mercedes-Benz
Saoutchik S Type has won this year’s Best of Show title at the
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The car, whose ‘torpedo’
bodywork with low windscreen was designed by French coachbuilder
Jacques Saoutchik, captured the hearts of the judges, who named it
the finest vehicle on display at the prestigious event.
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives have
information on the winning car to offer. It was originally ordered by
Mercedes-Benz Comp. Inc., New York, for a Mr. Charles Levine, New
York. On 2 August 1928, the chassis was delivered to Saoutchik in
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. The company manufactured and mounted the
sports two-seater body and charged 72,327.25 French Francs (equalling
11,572.35 Reichsmark) to Daimler-Benz AG in December 1928. The exact
date of delivery is not documented, but it is supposed to have
happened in December 1928.
Current owners Judy and Paul Andrews of
White Settlement, Texas, had the car extensively restored before
presenting it to the panel of judges in Pebble Beach. Before that the
vehicle had been kept in storage for around 30 years.
The Mercedes-Benz S Type – also known
as the 680 S because of its 6.8-litre engine capacity – was
launched in 1927 as an evolution of the Mercedes-Benz Model K super
sports car. It established the legendary family of heavyweight
supercharged cars that included the SS and SSK models from 1928.
The
cars dominated racing history over the years, but could also be
bought as conventional road vehicles. All vehicles in this family had
a six-cylinder in-line engine with a supercharger to increase output.
Power was also boosted by the dual ignition. Each cylinder had two
spark plugs, one fired by a battery ignition and the other by a
high-voltage magneto ignition.
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