1930 Mercedes-Benz "Grosser Mercedes" W07 Pullman Photos, engines & full specs

Mercedes-Benz introduced the W07 lineup in 1930 as a replacement for the former Typ 630 as its flagship model made by the German automaker, and the Pullman version was the most luxurious version for it.

When launched, the "Grosser Mercedes" (or the Great Mercedes) was one of the most expensive cars in the world. And yet, the Pullman version was actually priceless since it wasn't available for regular customers. It was built exclusively for country rulers, Pope Pius XI or the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. The latter has received an armored version that featured steel plates inside the doors, and four layers of glass of up to 22 mm (0.9") for the side windows, the rear windscreen, and the partition glass that separated the rear passenger compartment from the driver's cabin.

Following a similar front-end design as the rest of the W07 range, the car sported a V-shaped radiator grille. In front of it, the automaker placed the headlights on a cross-beam that connected the curved front fenders. In addition, the car featured a solid steel bumper meant to push away any obstacle. From its side, the sheer massive bodywork featured four doors, with rear-hinged ones for those seated in the back.

The cabin was split into two distinct areas. Those seated in the back were spoiled by a high level of comfort on a bench. In front of them, Mercedes-Benz installed a set of jump seats for translators. In addition, to keep the conversations private, the doors featured cranked windows.

But the Pullman/Limousine was not a light vehicle. Its huge size and the additional weight added by armor plating (not all of them featured such a treat) was moved by a massive inline-eight engine that was helped by a Roots supercharger to obtain up to 150 PS (148 hp).