In 1909 a car emerged from the Benz works in Mannheim, Germany, which became the standard setter of the age. The extraordinary Blitzen Benz was powered by an enormous 21.5 litre engine, which was eventually developed to produce 200 hp. In a period of relentless development in motor racing the Blitzen Benz was king.
The Blitzen Benz, a Record Breaking Racing Car
Benz designer Fritz Erle gave the car its competitive debut on August 22nd, 1909, when he convincingly won a sprint race in Germany. Late in the same year the Blitzen Benz established a new land speed record at Brooklands in England, driven by Victor Héméry, the first time a car had averaged over 200 km/h. It was also around this time that the car acquired a dramatic new body, featuring an aggressive looking radiator cowl and pointed tail.
Racing Car Moves to America
The story of the Blitzen Benz took an unexpected twist in early 1910. After being shipped to America, with the intention of breaking further records, the car was purchased by Ernie Moross in part exchange for his own Grand Prix Benz. He renamed the car the Lightning Benz, although Moross eventually changed it back to the original German spelling.
The great American driver Barney Oldfield drove Moross’s car at Daytona in March, 1910, setting an unofficial land speed record. Oldfield’s association with the Benz was brief, for he was suspended from racing the same year as punishment for competing in outlawed events. His place was taken by Bob Burman, who managed to exploit the car’s considerable potential. In April, 1919 Burman set a new land speed record which stood for eight years.
In the wake of Burman’s record breaking exploits the Blitzen Benz assumed legendary status in America, and was toured around the country visiting state fairs. Its competitive days, however, were numbered. New regulations for the 1913 season restricted engine size to 7.4 litres.
The Blitzen Benz Returns to Race in Europe
After changing hands, and being modified by Burman, it was a much changed car which appeared in 1915, dubbed the Burman Special. Following Burman’s death in 1916, while driving a Peugeot in a race at Corona, the Benz returned to Europe. From there its career slowly declined. Its final owner was the racing driver Count Louis Zborowski, who cannibalised the car in 1923 to use parts for another project.
Other Blitzen Benz Racing Cars
Benz built several other 21.5 litre racing machines between 1910 and 1912. The Blitzen Benz II was raced successfully by Erle, using two different body styles, before being shipped to America where Burman also drove the car. After the end of World War I the car disappeared somewhere in America.
The Blitzen Benz III was sold to L.G. Hornsted, who set many speed records with the car at Brooklands. John Duff was racing the car at Brooklands in Spetember, 1922 when he crashed and the car was destroyed. The fourth car to be assembled had a longer career, winning races during the 1920s. In total, six 21.5 litre cars were built, of which only two survive. One is owned by Mercedes-Benz while the other is in a private collection.
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