Benz Teardrop

(from DaimlerChrysler Press Release)  A spectacular if not revolutionary car was created at Benz in Mannheim: the teardrop car. It was both the systematically aerodynamic shape and the location of the engine behind the driver that caused a sensa¬tion. In engineering and styling terms, the new Benz racing car was clearly modelled on the famous Rumpler drop-shaped car. Victory in the very first race in Monza in September 1923 was not to be expected, but Fernando Minoia's fourth place and a special prize for the most unusual racing car of all competitors ranked as an undisputed succès d'estime.

The original version of this interesting car was not entered in any other races – due in part to the economic crisis in Germany and in part to the cooperation between Mannheim-based Benz & Cie. and Untertürkheim-based Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, which began in 1924 and culminated in the merger of the two companies into Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft on 28/29 June 1926. During this transitional period, racing activities were first and foremost initiated by DMG.