Benz Prince Heinrich

This Benz, with its 80 hp 5.7 liter engine, was therefore used in 1910 for the Prinz Heinrich Fahrt, named after the brother of the German emperor Wilhelm II.

Officially this is a production touring car, but that is not entirely true. Note the ‘eggs’ at the front – they are streamlined headlamp covers. The disk wheels and the radiator shroud are also designed to reduce wind resistance. The car is also fitted with modern technology such as lubrication pumps and shaft drive. The ‘Prinz Heinrich Fahrt’ was a race for touring cars: four-seater production cars. In addition to the driver and co-driver, an observer from the organising body, the Kaiserliche Automobil Club, sat in the rear. The six-day event covered almost 2000 km through Germany and France. The Benz displayed here finished in fifth place. The race was won by Ferdinand Porsche in an Austro-Daimler.