87 years ago, this Mercedes hit 432 km/h… on the highway!
This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 87 ans, cette Mercedes a tapé 432 km/h… sur autoroute !" in French.
- 28/08/2025 9:53
On August 28, 1938, Rudolf Caracciola wrote a funny story about the automobile on a stretch of German highway.
On that day, Rudolf Caracciola, one of the greatest pre-war drivers, launched a specially prepared Mercedes at a speed that still seems unreal today: 432 km/h.
The feat took place on the A5 Autobahn, near Darmstadt. Mercedes had developed a machine designed for pure speed, the W125 Rekordwagen, powered by a 5.6-liter V12 supercharged engine delivering more than 730 horsepower. A technological monster for that era, wrapped in a body shaped like a projectile.
Caracciola, already a three-time European champion – the equivalent of modern F1 at the time – and nicknamed the “Regenmeister” for his skill in the rain, did not have to deal with turns or bad weather this time. But the danger remained immense. At over 400 km/h, the slightest gust of wind or the smallest irregularity in the pavement could be fatal. Nevertheless, he kept his cool and etched his name in history.
Caracciola skims the Autobahn
This record has a particularity that makes it even more impressive: it was set on a public road. Unlike modern testing tracks or salty deserts like Bonneville, it was indeed on a stretch of open highway that Caracciola reached this insane speed. This is why today, his record is still considered unbeatable under these conditions.
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The feat should not only be seen as a technical demonstration. In 1938, Europe was on the brink of war. For Mercedes, and more broadly for Germany, these records also served as propaganda tools, symbols of technological supremacy. But beyond the context, it remains the act of an exceptional driver, mastering a powerful machine at a time when automotive safety was still in its infancy. An even more incredible achievement when one remembers that in 1938, horse-drawn carriages were still common in many European cities and few cars exceeded 100 km/h!
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