Mercedes-Benz W125

These photographs were taken at the Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting at Oulton Park in June 1971.

It's the 5,663cc straight-8 supercharged 1937 Mercedes-Benz W125 of Colin Crabbe in which he won the Richard Seaman Memorial Historic Trophy Race that day. Rescued by Colin Crabbe from East Germany in the 1960s, it's the only Mercedes-Benz W125 in private hands and was subsequently owned by Neil Corner and Bernie Ecclestone. A note in the programme had this to say about the car (after discussing the expected duel between the ERAs of Martin Morris and Neil Corner):

'Also on the front row will be one of the fabulous 1937 Grand Prix Mercedes of 5.6 litres, the most powerful Grand Prix car ever built with an engine capable of giving over 600 bhp, perhaps double that of a 2 litre ERA. The driver is Colin Crabbe, whose brave bid to bring one of these formidable cars back into racing after a lapse of over 30 years will be watched with interest.'

Here's Colin Crabbe just past Old Hall Corner during the race.