The three-axle Mercedes-Benz W31 type 4 is a 8 cylinder car from 1934. It weighed over 3500 kilograms. It was an off road vehicle with a top speed of 67 km/h. Developed specially for military purpose as command of staff car, but is was too expensive, therefore it was only used by Adolf Hitler and other staff members.
Four of the 72 vehicles, according to the museum, 57 vehicles according to another source, survive today like the one on the photo’s we saw in the Sinsheim Technique museum in Germany. It is used during the occupation of Austria and in Eastern Europe. It seems to be used as fire engine after the war but was restored to its original condition.
Fine car. Ironic twist that other car makers, including American and British, didn’t design their own version of the W-31 G4, updated it and sold it on the civilian car market. Today, the six-wheeled vehicle is used on utility trucks, mail delivery trucks and armored vehicle guard trucks, among others. Perhaps the sedan’s association with Nazi Germany made it an anathema to the automobile industry in other countries.