1931 MERCEDES BENZ “Grosser Mercedes” Tourenwagen (W07) 770 Kompressor

Vehicle Overview

After a two year development, Mercedes-Benz launched the “Grand Mercedes” at the end of 1930.

It was the most luxurious vehicle offered by the German car-maker.

The Grosser Mercedes, or Grand Mercedes, W07 was intended to be the ultimate luxury and performance vehicle. The specialized publications from the era recorded that the car was safe to drive even at “breathtaking speeds of over 120 kph” (75 mph). The Grand Mercedes was offered with a supercharged or naturally aspirated engine.

It was one of the most expensive cars from its era and it was built to carry up to seven passengers aboard. It shared the same chassis with the Cabriolet D, with a long wheelbase and four doors. The three-row seating arrangement was considered a luxury design. In front of the last row of seats, it featured a removable additional windshield. The canvas-top was long enough to cover all three rows and it was carried over from the Cabriolet D.

The W07 Grosser Mercedes was produced in 117 units and the most common body version was the Pullman saloon with 42 units, followed by the Tourenwagen (open tourer) with 29 units. Unlike its Cabriolet D sibling, the Tourenwagen was offered exclusively with a supercharged engine. The eight-cylinder engine offered 200 hp and it was mated to a 3-speed gearbox via a twin-disc clutch system.