Mercedes to Feature T80 Land Speed Record Car at Goodwood
Mercedes’ 3000 horsepower, 44.5-liter V12, triple axle, 1930s beast will turn heads at the U.K. festival, July 12-15.
This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is going to have an incredible display of pre-war Mercedes automobiles, but the one that stands out the very most is the T80 land speed record car.
We learned through Classic & Sportscar that the 1939 T80 will debut at Goodwood in all of its 3000 horsepower, 44.5 liter V12, triple axle glory. Of course the T80 was a bit of an interesting flight of fancy that never really took off due to World War 2, but this is the car developed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Mercedes to achieve 470 miles per hour… in 1939. The T80, of course, never saw those speeds, and likely never will. It would simply be too dangerous, but that just shows the lengths that some will go in order to have a land speed record.
Goodwood is the perfect venue for this incredible Mercedes to debut, given their acceptance of cars only with the finest motorsport pedigree. Goodwood also will be a trip back in time, as it is customary to wear period correct clothing with regard to the automobile you will be showcasing. We can only imagine that Mercedes will be replete with mechanics looking like they are straight out of a black and white vintage racing film.
In addition to the T80, Mercedes will have a few other vintage pre and post-war Grand Prix race cars. Those cars haven’t been confirmed yet, but if they to compete with the wild T80, it could likely be a mix of Silver Arrows from the era of twin rear tires. Modern Mercedes will have a presence too, with the Le Mans CLK GTR racer being showcased, and the new Project ONE as well. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Join the MB World forums now!
