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

General information & model overview

Category	Specification Details
Model name	Mercedes-Benz “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet F (W07) (1931–1938)
Family	Mercedes-Benz Typ 770 / “Grosser Mercedes” (Großer Mercedes)
Internal code	W07 (first-generation Typ 770)
Production years	Approximately 1931 – 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 F — largest formal Pullman-oriented 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 F: body identity on the W07 Grosser chassis

The Grosser Mercedes Cabriolet F is the most ceremonial open expression commonly associated with the W07 Typ 770: a large formal Pullman-oriented cabriolet for multi-seat open state and elite social use. If Cabriolet A is the intimate open cut of the family, Cabriolet F is the open carriage end of the same spectrum.

Notable survivors and period associations include formal open cars linked in literature to high-status private and institutional owners; every such claim requires chassis-level verification. Mechanically the car remains a W07 7.7-litre eight on the long leaf-spring chassis — see the hub.

Compare with Cabriolet D for related large formal open use and with the Tourenwagen for open multi-seat utility with a less cabriolet-formal emphasis.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Design and coachwork

Visual grammar is maximum formal length and open-air presence: long engine bay, tall formal cabin when the top is raised, and a folding top structure engineered for a wide rear compartment. Brightwork and interior richness signal rank.

The top assembly is a major engineering object in its own right. Irons, fabric, and seals dominate long-term cost. A car without a correct top is incomplete as a Cabriolet F regardless of engine health.

Closed-top photographs can understate scale; side profiles with the top down show why the F letter exists—open ceremony on flagship mechanicals.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Mechanical basis and driving character

Driving a Cabriolet F is chauffeur-culture more than owner-driver sport. Steering effort, brake planning, and passenger comfort define competence. Supercharged examples add reserve power for formal progress, not circuit behaviour.

Under full load the mechanical limits of drums, tyres, and cooling become obvious. Maintenance schedules must assume ceremonial use patterns: low average speed, high idle time, high thermal stress.

Do not confuse W07 Cabriolet F with the later W150 Cabriolet F; chassis, brakes, and gearbox generations differ.

Collecting and documentation

Cabriolet F cars sit at the top of open Grosser collecting interest. Provenance, originality of coachwork, and supercharger status dominate value discussions. Specialist museums and private collections are the realistic homes for coherent examples.

Storage must be climate-aware and spacious. Moving these cars for events requires planning comparable to other large pre-war state cars.

Ownership: strengths and things to watch

Strengths

• Maximum W07 open ceremony — Pullman-oriented cabriolet presence.
• Highest educational impact — scale is immediately obvious to visitors.
• Archival importance — few cars; each file matters.

Things to watch

• Logistics — storage, transport, and workshop access before purchase.
• Top completeness — without irons/fabric, F identity collapses.
• Generation mix-ups — W150 F is a different chassis.
• Security and handling — crowds and brightwork risk at shows.

Sibling comparisons

Cabriolet F is the W07 open ceremonial ceiling. D is the nearest multi-seat open neighbour; Tourenwagen shares visibility goals with different equipment; A/B are less extreme open cuts. Do not equate with W150 Cabriolet F without chassis checks.

Legacy

Cabriolet F is the open ceremonial ceiling of the W07 programme. Few bodies make the scale of Typ 770 as obvious. Stewardship, not casual collecting, is the realistic modern role.

Separate W07 F identity carefully from later W150 F cars in every caption and insurance file.

Pullman open ceremony (Cabriolet F)

F is the most ceremonial open expression on the first-generation Grosser chassis. Ownership is museum-class in cost and logistics.

1. Scale logistics

Storage, transport, and workshop access must be planned before purchase. Ordinary garages rarely fit.

2. Top completeness

A car without correct top structure is not a coherent Cabriolet F regardless of engine health.

3. Generation confusion

Do not mix W07 F identity with later W150 Cabriolet F mechanicals. Brakes, frame, and gearbox generations differ.

Pullman open logistics

Cabriolet F ownership is logistics first and romance second. Measure workshop doors, trailer ramps, and storage height before bidding. Moving the car without a plan for irons and fabric protection risks damage that exceeds a year’s maintenance budget. Institutions that display F-bodies usually schedule top work years ahead because few trimmers handle this scale.

When the car appears in public, control access to the rear compartment. Soft trim and brightwork attract casual handling. A simple rope line and a trained attendant do more for conservation than another coat of polish after each outing.

Buying checklist specific to Cabriolet F

Require a written conservation plan and storage address before deposit. Measure the car’s height with the top raised for transport permits. Verify generation: W07 mechanical brakes and four-speed versus any later parts. F-body rarity attracts forged stories; pay for independent archival research on the chassis number before celebrating provenance.

Maximum open formality on the first generation

Cabriolet F is the open end-point of W07 ceremony. It is the body style that most clearly refuses mid-size analogies. Length, top structure, and rear compartment ambition are those of a mobile formal salon with the roof deleted on demand. Owning one is closer to stewardship of a small historic vessel than to keeping a normal classic car.

Because F-bodies are few, each published photograph circulates widely. Owners should watermark or at least track image rights when museums and media reuse shots. Accurate captions that include chassis generation help stop W07 and W150 F-cars being merged into one mythical object online.

Mechanical preparation for any movement should be checklist-driven: brakes, tyres, coolant, fuel quality, steering play, and top latches. Skipping the list because the car “only has to roll onto a stand” is how rare irons and sills get hurt in loading accidents.

Institutions borrowing a W07 Cabriolet F should sign a condition report that lists top-iron count and any existing fabric tears before the car leaves storage.