Mercedes-Benz Classic Bringing Very Early Cars to Pebble Beach Concours

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Classic is bringing two very early cars to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 18. They are the 1910 Prinz Heinrich MercedesBenz Prinz-Heinrich-Wagen...Germany, 1910 > 19121 photo
and 1907 24/40 hp Benz landauletBenz 24/40 HPGermany, 1907 > 19102 photos
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The 1910 Prinz Heinrich car was restored this year and has been making the rounds of major classic car shows in the US and Europe. The car got its name from the Prince Heinrich Tour, which was an endurance race named in honor of the German emperor's brother. It was created for four-seater production cars and racecars were not permitted. The race covered 1,945km from June 2 to June 8 from Berlin to Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany.

While racecars were not technically permitted, Mercedes built ten special touring cars for the race. Four of them used 5.7-liter four-cylinder engines with 80hp and the rest had 7.3-liters. All of them have special streamlined bodies.

The car on display at Pebble Beach is one of two surviving 1910 Prince Heinrich Mercedes cars. It finished 11th place. 

The 1907 24/40hp Benz landaulet represented the most luxurious car the company made at the time. It used a 6.1-liter four-cylinder engine with 40hp, but a 45hp model was also offered at the time, with gear-driven cams and chain-driven rear-wheel drive. 

The landaulet body was designed for chauffeurs. The driver was exposed to the elements, but the rear passengers were enclosed. The car was originally sold in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and remained in service until 1966.

Since the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance began in 1950, Mercedes has won over 120 class victories and special prizes at the show. It also won "Best of Show" last year for a 1928 Saoutchik S Type.