Мерседес Симплекс: Основоположник класса роскошных автомобилей

The Mercedes Simplex was an automobile produced from 1902 to 1909 by the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG, Daimler Motor Society, a predecessor of Daimler Benz and Daimler Chrysler). It continued the use of the Mercedes name as the brand of DMG, rather than Daimler. The Mercedes Simplex was designed by Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart, Germany. It featured powerful engines whose power ranged from 40 to 60 hp. Its large and wide body had a low center of gravity. A highlight of the Simplex family was the model 60 hp. With this car Mercedes laid the foundation of a new car segment, the super luxury class with an imposing touring Saloon body, it was unlike anything else at the time and quickly established itself well with royalty and aristocrats. Its immense size and luxuries were to set the milestones for the development of this segment, which was continued on by numerous models over the next 70 odd years, including the 630, 770 Grand, 300 Adenauer and terminating in 1981 with the demise of the 600 Grand. All these models occupied the absolute top segment in the automotive world, along with brands such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Cadillac and other demised luxury car manufacturers.

The car's predecessor, the Mercedes 35hp of 1901, had broken with the previous primitive automotive standards. Now, DMG and Maybach intended to improve this further by providing "comfort by means of simplicity", hence the name Simplex. A complementary explanation for the name is that, by the standards of 1901, the car was very simple to operate.

The creation of the previous model, the Mercedes 35hp, predecessor of the Simplex, was due to DMG's industrial might, the know how of its industrial designer Wilhelm Maybach and Emil Jellinek's enthusiasm for motorsport. Jellinek was DMG's foreign agent based on the French Riviera where he was the Austro Hungarian consul. That car had resulted in the company's early success. In 1902, Maybach decided to incorporate a series of modifications to the Simplex, anticipating a large number of sales. To suit their basically high society clients, the new Mercedes would be shown publicly "while driving through the most traditional avenues in town or to picnic in a park".

When Jellinek received his first Simplex on 1 March 1902 at Nice, he rushed to incorporate it into his Mercedes race team, competing in the Nice La Turbie hillclimbing race. He defeated all his opponents again and set new records. On 7 April 1902, during Nice week, Albert Lemaître finished second in the Nice – La Turbie mountain race driving a Mercedes Simplex. He was competing in the category for racing cars weighing more than 1000 kg. Also in 1902, in the United States, a Mercedes Simplex won the 5 mile track race at Grosse Pointe, Detroit. In this 1902 campaign, the third step involved William K. Vanderbilt Jr, a US multimillionaire and race car enthusiast who created in 1904 the American Vanderbilt Cup. He had already set several records with the previous Mercedes, in some of the most popular races around the turn of the century, usually long distance ones. Now, with the Mercedes Simplex, Vanderbilt took part in the 600 mile race to Paris. Later, he broke all records in the Ablis to Chartres race with flying start, with a top speed of 111.8 km/h. One of his Simplex units is the oldest surviving Mercedes car.

Mercedes Simplexs prowesses were resonating all around the world. More than ever DMG obtained clients among the most important social figures. Meeting Maybach personally at Berlin's automobile exhibition of 1903 Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany expressed his admiration for the car. Congratulating him for all the achievements at the races, he contrasted these with car's name, commenting: "A truly beautiful engine you have here! But it's not as simple as that, you know."

DateEventCircuit Driver Country Result CarAugust 31, 1902Frankfurt Circuit RaceOberforsthausWilhelm WernerGermany1stMercedes Simplex 40 hp April 1, 1903Nice La Turbie Otto Hieronimus(Mercedes team)Germany1stMercedes SimplexApril 1, 1903Nice La Turbie Wilhelm Werner(Mercedes team)Germany2ndMercedes SimplexApril 1, 1903Nice La Turbie Count ZborowskiPolandCrashedMercedes SimplexApril 7, 1903Mile Race of NicePromenade des AnglaisHermann BraunGermany1stMercedes SimplexMay 25, 1904May Ostend (Belgium)land speedPierre de CatersBelgium97.25 mph(World record)Mercedes Simplex 90 hpJune 19, 1904Frankfurt Circuit RaceOberforsthausWilly PögeGermany1stMercedes Simplex 60 hp

Mercedes Simplex framework was long, wide and with a low center of gravity, giving an improved stability at high speeds. The wheelbase was extended to 2.45 meters (8'1"). Its carefully designed frame was made of pressed steel. The engine was welded onto it directly, keeping it at a low height. Other general modifications reduced the overall Simplex weight to 942 kg, assuring better results in racing.

The Mercedes Simplex engine was mounted over the front axle. The engine's power was taken from a sprocket flywheel, 60 cm in diameter, transmitting it to the rear drive by a long roller chain. The 'gate gear' manual gearbox featured four speeds and reverse, controlling a coil spring clutch acting on the flywheel system. A lever produced both declutching and deceleration together.

Between November 2005 and March 2006, the Mercedes Benz Museum, built over the original site of DMG Stuttgart Untertürkheim factory of 100 years ago, exhibited 13 original Mercedes Simplex units. The oldest one was the vehicle owned by Vanderbilt. There was also, an Argentine unit preserving its specifically enlarged wheels to drive over the muddy Pampas roads. All 13 cars were functional, taking part in several annual nostalgic competitions such as the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and Gordon Bennett Revival.