Mercedes-Benz

1939 Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet F (W150)

General information & model overview

Category	Specification Details
Model name	1939 Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet F (W150)
Family	Mercedes-Benz Typ 770 / “Grosser Mercedes” second generation
Internal code	W150
Production years	Approximately 1939 – 1943 (W150 Cabriolet F theme; very small production) (chassis programme into early 1940s; last bodies delivered into 1944 in family tallies)
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz AG
Market role	Ultra-luxury / state and ceremonial flagship; most expensive German passenger car class of its moment, often priced “on request”
Body focus of this entry	Cabriolet F — largest formal open Pullman-oriented body on W150; among the rarest open styles
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Predecessor generation	W07 Typ 770 (1930–1938) — see Typ 770 hub
Related W150 bodies	Cab B, Cab D, Cab F, Tourenwagen
W150 programme scale	Approximately 88 W150-series cars (all bodies combined)

Body & dimensions (W150 chassis class)

Specification	Details
Wheelbase	Approximately 3,880 mm (about 153 in)
Overall length	Roughly 6,000 – 6,500 mm depending on body and equipment
Width	About 2,100 – 2,500 mm class depending on body and armour packages
Height	About 1,900 mm class
Chassis	Oval-section tube frame; independent front suspension; de Dion rear axle; coil springs
Brakes	Hydraulic brakes (advance over W07 mechanical servo system)
Special equipment	Selected cars ordered with armour glass, steel plating, and related security fittings — verify on the individual vehicle

Engine specifications (W150 / M150 theme)

Theme	Details
Configuration	Inline eight-cylinder petrol, related architecture to W07 M07 but revised
Displacement	7,665 cc
Output (naturally aspirated)	About 155 PS / 155 bhp (116 kW) at roughly 3,000 rpm
Output (supercharged)	About 230 PS / 230 bhp (172 kW) at roughly 3,200 rpm with blower
Special high-output theme	Literature notes rare twin-supercharged high-power cars (very small numbers) — individual verification required
Top speed class	Around 170 km/h quoted for typical supercharged cars; higher figures claimed for rare high-output versions

Drivetrain (W150)

Category	Details
Gearbox	Five-speed manual; fourth direct, fifth overdrive-style in period descriptions
Drive	Rear-wheel drive
Suspension	Independent front; de Dion rear; coil springs
Brakes	Hydraulic drums suited to very high mass when well maintained

1939 Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet F: body identity on the W150 Grosser chassis

The 1939 Mercedes-Benz Grosser Mercedes Cabriolet F on the W150 chassis is the second-generation programme’s largest formal open expression. Literature and specialist tallies treat Cabriolet F as one of the rarest W150 body styles—on the order of only a handful of cars in some counts—within an already tiny total of about 88 W150 chassis. Exact numbers should be checked against current manufacturer and club research for any specific car.

Mechanicals are the revised W150 package: oval-tube chassis, independent front suspension, de Dion rear, coil springs, hydraulic brakes, five-speed gearbox, and the 7,665 cc eight with about 155 PS unblown or about 230 PS supercharged. Full generation context lives on the Typ 770 hub.

Related W150 open bodies: Cabriolet B, Cabriolet D, Tourenwagen. First-generation counterpart: W07 Cabriolet F.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Design and coachwork

Design continues the Pullman open ceremony idea on a longer, more modern chassis. Overall length can exceed six metres depending on body and equipment. The folding top and multi-seat rear compartment dominate both visual identity and ownership cost.

Some W150 cars were ordered with security equipment—armour glass, steel plating, special tyres—that further increases mass and changes recommended operating speeds. Not every Cabriolet F is armoured; verify on documents and physical inspection.

Brightwork, interior timber, and leather or cloth trims signal state-class finish. Restorations must decide whether to preserve wartime or post-war finishes when both exist in a car’s history.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Mechanical basis and driving character

The W150 chassis is more sophisticated than the W07: hydraulic brakes and independent front suspension improve control authority on paper, but mass still rules. Drivers must plan early, especially with a full formal cabin.

Five-speed gearing and stronger supercharged output make decisive formal progress more available than on early unblown cars, yet modern dual carriageways remain inappropriate as a design use case.

Cooling, fuel quality, and tyre condition decide whether a rare F is a runner or a static exhibit. Specialist workshops familiar with large 1930s Mercedes eights are essential.

Collecting and documentation

Cabriolet F rarity means each documented car is a primary source. Auction and private-sale claims should be checked against chassis registers. Historical associations with official users require careful, non-sensational documentation.

Insurance, transport, and storage costs are museum-level. Acquisition without a conservation plan is incomplete.

Ownership: strengths and things to watch

Strengths

Rarest open W150 formal cut — primary-source status for the generation.
Later chassis features — oval tube, IFS, de Dion, hydraulic brakes when healthy.
Strong supercharged output class — revised 7.7-litre theme.

Things to watch

Hydraulic condition — beauty without brakes is unsafe.
Security equipment mass — armour changes tyres and speeds if present.
Public pressure — do not drive for crowds before the car is ready.
Documentation custody — split wartime/post-war layers carefully.

Sibling comparisons

Among W150 open bodies, F is the most extreme formal cabriolet. D is large multi-seat open ceremony; B is typically less Pullman-extreme; Tourenwagen is multi-seat open visibility. W07 Cabriolet F is first-generation only.

Legacy

W150 Cabriolet F pairs maximum open formality with the second-generation chassis. Extreme rarity makes every documented example a primary source for late-1930s flagship practice.

Hydraulic brakes and oval-tube structure are part of that legacy only when they are maintained; beauty without stopping power is incomplete history.