Product Information:

CMC M-115 Mercedes-Benz W 125, GP Donington 1937 #3 von Brauchitsch

Limited Edition Number 0893 of 1,000 pcs

Brand New

History (Original vehicle)

The Donington Grand Prix in England took place on October 2, and was the final race of the 1937 season and the last round of the 750 kg formula racing. Although not a race of the Grand Prix European Championship it brought the Grand Prix scene to Great Britain for the first time and was an opportunity to see spectacular performances and racing giants.

Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union had been closely involved in the competition of major Grand Prix races, so a duel was expected to unfold between them, especially after both teams were reported to have sent their top drivers to the UK, such as Rudolf Caracciola for Mercedes-Benz and Bernd Rosemeyer for Auto Union. For safety reasons, the race organizers also decreed that all cars participating in this race be equipped with an additional leather belt to keep the engine hood shut, which gave each race car a very distinctive look.

The race itself was a merciless showdown between the young Bernd Rosemeyer in an Auto Union Type C and Manfred von Brauchitsch in his Mercedes W 125 with a 570-hp 8-cylinder compressor engine. In the end, Rosemeyer won, whereas von Brauchitsch finished 2nd and Caracciola 3rd. The other two Mercedes drivers Hermann Lang and Richard Seaman, a native British and local hero were out of luck. Both had to retire from the race due to technical problems or accidents.

All in all, Mercedes would be satisfied with 2nd and 3rd places. The W 125 had proved to be the most successful Grand Prix car of this season and saw Rudolf Caracciola winner of the European Championship in 1937.