The 1940s were a transformative era for automotive engineering, marked by both innovation and the looming shadow of global conflict. Among the vehicles that stand as a testament to this period is the 1940s Mercedes-Benz 770, a car synonymous with power, luxury, and, infamously, Adolf Hitler. Recently, while revisiting old travel photos, I rediscovered images from a 1990 visit to the Canada War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, featuring this very vehicle: Hitler’s 1940 bulletproof Groer Mercedes-Benz 770 Series II (W150) Offener Tourenwagen.
Back then, access was much closer, allowing for detailed photographs like these, a stark contrast to today’s more restrictive museum environments. This particular 1940s Mercedes, a relic of a dark past, now carries an estimated value of around $20,000,000, a reflection of its historical significance and rarity. Its construction is a marvel of wartime engineering; the flooring incorporates 6 mm thick steel, while other body panels utilize 3 mm hardened steel, designed to withstand mine explosions and machine gunfire. The windows are equally robust, crafted from 4 cm thick bulletproof glass. Despite its considerable 197-litre fuel tank, the vehicle’s fuel economy was a mere 3.7 km per litre, highlighting the immense power and weight of this machine.
Only 88 of these Grosser Mercedes-Benz 770 models were produced between 1938 and 1943. While a select few were sold privately, the vast majority served the Nazi government, allocated to heads of state, ministers, and high-ranking officials. Hitler himself possessed seven of these prestigious 1940s Mercedes limousines and frequently gifted them to leaders of nations he sought alliances with. Another example of this model is also preserved in the Sinsheim museum, underscoring its historical importance.
Under the hood, this 1940s Mercedes limousine is powered by a supercharged 7.7-litre straight-eight engine, delivering 230bhp at 3200 rpm, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. The chassis features oval section tubes, and coil springs provide suspension on all four wheels. Measuring over 6 meters in length and 2 meters in width, and weighing a hefty 4.1 tons, this vehicle could still reach speeds of up to 170 km/h, a testament to its engineering prowess despite its bulk and protective features.
Imagine Erich Kempka, Hitler’s personal driver, maneuvering this colossal machine with its prominent four-spoke steering wheel. Beyond the bulletproof doors and windows, the 1940s Mercedes featured a retractable armor plate behind the rear seat and three pistol compartments, strategically placed in the dash and rear. Interestingly, this particular vehicle was discovered by a US GI in a Salzburg, Austria railway yard in April 1945. The US Army subsequently used it in Germany before shipping it to Boston in 1946 for storage. In 1956, a Montreal collector acquired it at an army auction in Maryland for a mere $2,725. Later, Mr. Claude Pratte, a businessman from Quebec City, purchased it and donated it to the Ottawa War Museum 38 years ago, initially believing it to be Hermann Gring’s staff car. Museum research later confirmed its identity through manufacturer serial numbers as indeed Hitler’s car.
A tangible link to its tumultuous past remains visible: the front passenger window, shattered by Allied fighter aircraft fire, and seven original bullet holes from 1945. Even in 1990, the broken glass shards were sharp enough to cut a finger, a stark reminder of the violence this 1940s Mercedes endured and witnessed. This vehicle is more than just a car; it’s a rolling piece of history, preserved for future generations to understand the complexities of the past.
