Hitlers used this Experimental Mercedes W24

[Hans Rinsma]

Many people think that the car on "this picture is an "grosser Mercedes".
On the thread on the Panzer Forum we can read many reactions on Hitlers Staff-cars.
I wrote in the articles about the Mercedes-Benz 770 "Grosser Mercedes" type W07 and the later type Mercedes-Benz 770 "Grosser Mercedes" W 150.
You can find also the thread about the Aktion P Mercedes-Benz 540 K.

I let you See today the car that is used by Adolf Hitler and belongs to the history of the great cars of the Mercedes-Benz cars of the Third Reich.

On the Picture the Mercedes-Benz Exeperimental W24 Offener Tourenwagen, the car has here on the photo the headlamps from Bosch and is driving Hitler in a parade in 1937.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes W 24

Daimler Benz intended to replace the Nürburg and the Grosser Mercedes with the Experimental W24, and the early work showed great promise. Three prototypes were presented at the 1936 car show in Berlin.
But Daimler-Benz had already realized ( in July 1936 ) that the Experimental W24 was not the solution they needed and had decided to design a new Grosser Mercedes.

On the photo : the last Expermental W 24 to be built, It was ready in 1936 and delivered in January 1937, to Dr. Ley, the Nazi politician who was the power behind the "Kraft durch Freude" movement.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

This is the same car with the hood up. Note the luggage grid .

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

This particular body was built at the Mannheim Mercedes-Benz works. The Wheels are of a different type to those of the previously shown Expermental W24.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The same car from a different angle.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The Experimental W24 Offener Tourenwagen in 1936.
It is not surprising that this car is often mistaken for a Grosser Mercedes.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The car had a 5,4 Liter engine and, internally in Daimler-Benz, was referred to as the 540 K Long .

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The car was delivered to the German government, the car on this photo is the same, but , strangely, a boot has been attached. The rear bumper has also been moved to the rear of the attached boot.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

Experimental W24 , Offener Tourenwagen at the Berlin car show, 1936 , with the 5,4 litre Engine and Zeiss headlamps. Note the unusual side windows.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W24

The same car at the opening of the Berlin car show on 18 February, 1938.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The same car , in Berlin ,May Day 1938.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The same car. Daimler-Benz referred internally to these Experimental cars as the 540 K long chassis.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The same car, outside the Kaiserhof Hotel in Berlin , October ,1939.
Standing in the car is Leutnant Commander Prien, commander of a submarine.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W 24

The type 540 Long (W 24 ) never progressed beyond the experimental stage. Daimler-Benz, allready in July 1936 realizing that this was not the right way to go in order to replace the 500 Nürburg and the first generation Grosser Mercedes.
Instead, Daimler-Benz decided upon developing a new , second generation Grosser Mercedes W 150, a design which would turn out to be the manufacturer's pre war crowning touch.
Due to the fact that the very few W 24 cars ever produced were delivered to the German cabinet, they were heavely exposed though, costantly turning up in newsreels, the papers and in photographs taking during state visits, parades etc. during the 1936-1938 period.

[Hans Rinsma]

Mercedes-Benz W24

This a very nice picture of the car.