Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet D (W07) (1932–1938)

General information & model overview

Category	Specification Details
Model name	Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet D (W07) (1932–1938)
Family	Mercedes-Benz Typ 770 / “Grosser Mercedes” (Großer Mercedes)
Internal code	W07 (first-generation Typ 770)
Production years	Approximately 1932 – 1938 within the W07 programme
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz AG, Untertürkheim
Market role	Ultra-luxury / state and ceremonial passenger car — flagship above mid-size and luxury eights such as the Typ Nurburg
Body focus of this entry	Cabriolet D — large formal multi-door / multi-seat open body on W07
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Family overview	Typ 770 hub
Related bodies	Cab A, Cab B, Cab C, Cab D, Cab F, Tourenwagen, Stadt Coupé
W07 programme scale	Approximately 117 W07-series cars built 1930–1938 (all bodies combined; individual body tallies are much smaller)

Body & dimensions (W07 chassis class)

Specification	Details
Wheelbase	Approximately 3,750 mm (about 148 in)
Overall length	Roughly 5,600 – 5,700 mm depending on body
Width	About 1,850 mm class
Height	About 1,800 – 1,830 mm class (body-dependent)
Track	About 1,500 mm front and rear (period figures)
Chassis	Boxed ladder frame; beam axles; semi-elliptic leaf springs
Coachwork	Factory-associated and specialist coachbuilt bodies on the long W07 chassis; exact fittings vary by order
Seating	Multi-seat formal layouts typical; exact count depends on body and partitions

Engine specifications (W07 / M07 theme)

Theme	Details
Configuration	Inline eight-cylinder petrol, overhead camshaft, aluminium pistons
Displacement	7,665 cc (approximately 7.7 litres)
Output (naturally aspirated)	About 150 PS / 150 bhp (112 kW) at roughly 2,800 rpm
Output (with optional supercharger)	About 200 PS / 200 bhp (149 kW) at roughly 2,800 rpm when Roots-type blower engaged (typically full-throttle engagement)
Induction	Naturally aspirated base; optional Kompressor (770 K theme in collector language)
Character	Smooth multi-cylinder luxury power for formal mass — not a short-chassis sports special
Fuel & cooling	Period carburation; liquid cooling; thermal load under formal closed mass is a central ownership subject

Drivetrain, chassis & brakes (W07)

Category	Details
Gearbox	Four-speed manual; third direct, fourth overdrive-style ratio in period descriptions
Drive	Rear-wheel drive
Suspension	Solid beam axles, semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear
Brakes	Servo-assisted mechanical brakes (period practice; not the later W150 hydraulic system)
Steering	Low-geared mechanical steering suited to formal parking and parade speeds

Performance (approximate, condition-dependent)

Measure	Details
Top speed (blown)	Up to about 160 km/h (99 mph) class quoted for supercharged cars under favourable conditions
Top speed (unblown)	Lower; formal body drag and gearing dominate
Use envelope	Ceremonial, diplomatic, and elite private transport — not modern high-speed dual carriageway use
Mass effect	Heavy coachwork and optional armour (where fitted later or specially) rewrite acceleration and braking demands

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

The Grosser Mercedes Cabriolet D on the W07 chassis is a large formal open body for multi-seat ceremonial and social use. In Mercedes open-body language of the period, D typically signals four-door or strongly multi-seat formal convertible character relative to A/B intimacy. On the Typ 770 it is one of the principal open formal faces of the first-generation flagship.

Shared W07 mechanicals: 7,665 cc OHC eight, about 150/200 PS unblown/blown, four-speed gearbox, 3.75 m wheelbase boxed chassis — full detail on the Typ 770 hub.

Related large open styles: Cabriolet F, Tourenwagen; more compact open: A, B, C.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Design and coachwork

Design emphasis is multi-seat open formality: long sides, substantial folding top structure, and a cabin that can carry guests or official parties. Weather equipment is part of the mission, not an accessory.

Mass is higher than lighter open cuts. That mass rewrites brake fade risk, tyre load, and cooling demand. Restorations that prioritise paint over structure and top mechanics miss the functional product.

Partitions, jump seats, and rear compartment fittings appear on some formal open orders; verify rather than assume a single interior template.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Mechanical basis and driving character

On the road the Cabriolet D is a formal carriage that happens to be open. Progress is touring-paced. Supercharged power helps with gradients and decisive overtaking in period terms; it does not create modern sports dynamics.

Full passenger loads change handling and stopping distances. Test and evaluate with realistic weight. Mechanical servo brakes must be excellent before public use.

Parade and ceremonial itineraries suit the machine better than long high-speed modern routes. Secondary roads in good condition and conservative averages are the correct modern pattern.

Collecting and documentation

Formal open multi-door Grossers attract strong historical interest and equally strong restoration bills. Factor top, wood, and brightwork into any acquisition budget before paint.

Document identity carefully against Cabriolet F claims; letter misattribution is common in secondary descriptions.

Ownership: strengths and things to watch

Strengths

• Ceremonial multi-seat open role — core public image of open Grossers.
• Strong documentary trails — large open cars appear often in period photos.
• Complete W07 powertrain story — unblown and optional Kompressor themes.

Things to watch

• Top and rear wood — multi-door open mass multiplies cost.
• Brake fade with full cabin — period drums need excellent condition.
• D vs F paperwork — sales copy often exaggerates letter.
• Post-event grit — clean floor channels after processions.

Sibling comparisons

Cabriolet D is large multi-seat open ceremony on W07. F is usually more Pullman-extreme; A/B are more compact open cuts; Tourenwagen emphasises visibility over cabriolet formality. Confirm generation before comparing to any W150 D.

Legacy

Cabriolet D embodies multi-seat open ceremony on the first Grosser generation. Public imagination often treats “open Grosser” as this kind of car, which is why accurate D documentation matters for the whole family.

Conservation of tops and rear compartments is the practical legacy: without those assemblies, the ceremonial brief disappears.

Large formal open use (Cabriolet D)

D-bodies emphasise multi-seat open ceremony. Mass and top complexity are higher than on lighter open cuts.

1. Passenger load and brakes

Mechanical servo brakes must be excellent under full cabin load. Solo tests understate risk.

2. Top as structure

Treat the folding top as a major assembly, not upholstery. Irons and wood lands fail before engines on neglected cars.

3. D versus F claims

Misattribution between D and F is common. Use order papers and dimensional cues, not sales adjectives.

Ceremonial open capacity on Cabriolet D

Large formal open Grossers exist to be seen with people aboard. That mission increases wear on seats, step plates, and door bottoms. Inspect those areas for crushed wood and tired fasteners after any event season. Mud and grit from parade routes accelerate corrosion at wing joins if the car is put away dirty.

If the car has partitions or jump seats, document their operation and lock them for transport. Loose interior fittings become projectiles in sudden stops. Keep a written load limit for modern tyres and axles even when the historical cabin can physically hold more guests than is wise today.

Buying checklist specific to Cabriolet D

Prioritise top irons and rear compartment wood over engine cosmetics. Request a brake demonstration from walking pace with at least two adults aboard. Confirm whether jump seats or partitions are original to the order. Large open D cars that sit for years with the top down often show UV damage on rear squabs that photographs from the front hide completely.

After purchase, schedule a quiet shakedown on empty secondary roads before any public event. Listen for axle noise under light load and watch coolant temperature in the first twenty minutes. Large open D-bodies hide small leaks until heat and vibration open them; early detection saves coachwork from water and oil stains.

Multi-seat open ceremony as a design brief

Cabriolet D exists because some clients needed to be seen with several people aboard in open air. That brief drives door arrangement, rear compartment size, and top bulk. It also drives mass. Every extra seat and door panel is weight the mechanical brakes and tyres must manage. Modern owners who load the cabin as if it were a modern limousine convertible will discover period limits quickly.

Service culture should include post-event inspections of door bottoms and rear floor wood. Ceremonial use deposits grit and moisture where casual driveway cars never collect it. A short cleaning ritual after each outing is cheaper than rebuilding rotten lands years later.

Historically, D-bodies sit near the centre of what the public imagines as a “Grosser cabriolet.” That popularity increases mis-captioning of other letters as D. Keep your car’s own evidence package complete so it does not become a generic label in someone else’s database.

For Cabriolet D photography rights, prefer captions that include generation W07 and letter D so image reuse does not flatten the car into an unnamed open Grosser.