Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart Museum Is a Time Capsule

Automobile Magazine sparks our interest in taking a deeper look at one display model that was poised to break a world speed record.

It should come as no surprise that a museum dedicated to preserving classic Mercedes-Benz automobiles over the years would have amassed an amazing collection of cars. But we still revel in any chance we get to take a peek inside.

The latest look into the collection housed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart comes courtesy of the team at Automobile Magazine. The post includes nine of the magazine’s favorite vehicles at the museum ranging from the 1955 Mercedes-Benz Rennwagen-Schnelltransporter to the Stirling Moss 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

But one of the most interesting vehicles featured in the Automobile report is the 1939 Mercedes-Benz T80. The odd-looking contraption was developed by Ferdinand Porsche for Mercedes-Benz and was once poised to break the land speed record until the T80 program was sidelined by World War II.

CHECK OUT: What the Forum Has to Say About the 1939 Mercedes-Benz T80

Apparently, the project never did get off the ground, but the concept was a pretty amazing fete in itself. The initial predictions were that the vehicle could reach a land speed of 342 mph. The potential land speed prediction for the T80 was later upped to 373 mph and a final speed of 475 mph. Of course, it’s all pretty much speculation now, considering that the T80 sits in preservation in Stuttgart museum.

That said, the T80 certainly had the tools to pull it off. The T80 was powered by a 44.5-liter Daimler-Benz DB603 V12 that originated in Daimler’s aeronautics division. The insane late-1930s invention is said to pack an earth-shattering 3,000 hp.

As you may have guessed, museum officials probably won’t be starting this one for visitors touring the facility.