Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet A (W07) (1931–1938)

General information & model overview

Body & dimensions (W07 chassis class)

Engine specifications (W07 / M07 theme)

Drivetrain, chassis & brakes (W07)

Performance (approximate, condition-dependent)

Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet A: body identity on the W07 Grosser chassis

The Mercedes-Benz Grosser Mercedes Cabriolet A on the W07 chassis is the more intimate open expression of the first-generation Typ 770. In period Mercedes letter practice, Cabriolet A generally denotes a two-door open arrangement with emphasis on driver and front passengers rather than the largest multi-door formal Pullman open layouts. On a 3.75 m wheelbase flagship, “intimate” is still relative: the car remains a vast eight-cylinder luxury machine.

Mechanical basis is the W07 Typ 770 described on the family hub: 7,665 cc overhead-cam inline eight, about 150 PS naturally aspirated or about 200 PS with optional supercharger, four-speed gearbox, beam axles, leaf springs, and servo-assisted mechanical brakes. The Cabriolet A does not create a separate sports powertrain; it changes coachwork mass, weather equipment, and social use.

Compare with Cabriolet B for a related open cut, with Cabriolet D and Cabriolet F for larger formal open multi-seat ceremony, and with the Tourenwagen for open multi-seat parade touring utility.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Design and coachwork

Cabriolet A coachwork on the Grosser chassis typically presents two main doors, a folding fabric top, and a cabin that prioritises front-seat presence. Occasional rear accommodation varies by order. Brightwork, screen design, and top irons should match period formal open practice rather than modern convertible fashion.

With the top raised, the silhouette becomes more formal and closed in visual bulk. With the top lowered, the long bonnet and eight-cylinder presence dominate. Either way, proportions remain those of a state-class chassis, not a short-wheelbase sports special of W06 culture.

Interior materials, hardware, and weather equipment quality vary with original specification and restoration ethics. Over-restoration into modern show gloss can erase the quiet formality that made the open flagship convincing; neglect turns wood and fabric into structural risk on a car this large.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Mechanical basis and driving character

On the road a sound W07 Cabriolet A feels upright, deliberate, and multi-cylinder smooth when ignition and fuelling are correct. Steering is slow by modern standards. Mechanical brakes under open formal mass demand early application. Supercharged cars add full-throttle drama in period terms, but safe modern use remains conservative.

Fair-weather orientation is realistic for soft-top cars. Period seals and side equipment are not modern all-season convertibles. Tyre load rating and age are safety-critical. Cooling under slow formal traffic remains a primary technical concern for any 7.7-litre Grosser.

Do not judge the car against a Typ S or short Kompressor sports special. Judge it against other W07 open bodies and against the closed formal alternative of the Stadt Coupé.

Collecting and documentation

Surviving Cabriolet A examples are extremely rare even within an already tiny programme. Values and historical interest track originality, supercharger status, coachwork integrity, and provenance. Thin paperwork under beautiful open coachwork is a serious risk.

Read this page with the Typ 770 hub for mechanical baselines and with other W07 open entries for letter-code context. Specialist storage, insurance, and workshop support are prerequisites, not optional extras.

Ownership: strengths and things to watch

Strengths

• Intimate open cut — A-letter formality on the long W07 chassis.
• Flagship eight — 7.7-litre OHC engine with optional blower on first-generation hardware.
• Clear family links — easy comparison to B–F and Tourenwagen pages.

Things to watch

• Top and scuttle wood — intimate open bodies still hide expensive rot.
• Mis-lettering — A cars get sold as generic open Grossers.
• Blower claims — verify engagement hardware, not badges.
• Mass and brakes — mechanical servo brakes under open formal weight.

Sibling comparisons

Prefer Cabriolet A when the cabin is the more intimate open cut on W07. Choose B or C for broader formal open seating, D or F for large multi-seat open ceremony, Tourenwagen for parade visibility, and Stadt Coupé for closed weather use. W150 pages are a different chassis generation.

Legacy

Cabriolet A on the W07 chassis shows that even the Grosser family offered a more intimate open cut. It remains a flagship machine, not a sports special, and should be remembered as open formality scaled down only relative to D and F bodies.

Survivors are research objects as much as cars. Accurate A-letter captions prevent them from being absorbed into generic “Grosser cabriolet” language online.