This Mercedes won the Nürburgring's very first race

Production car records, hot hatch times, super saloon hot laps… forget them all, because this Mercedes-Benz Model S was the first. In June 1927, this Model S won the inaugural race for sports cars at the world’s most famous proving ground.

Yup, in the hands of Rudolf Caracciola, the “white elephant” set the fastest time for all classes with an average speed of 101.1kmh (just over 62mph!) at the newly opened Nürburgring.

His team-mate finished second – also in a Model S – and the race covered both the North Loop and South Loops of the ‘Ring. Meaning a complete lap covered 18 miles (29km), notably longer than the current Nordschelife. ‘Mazing.

Even as far back as 1927 though, the Mercedes-Benz racing team was still obsessed – as everyone is these days – with optimising. So the Model S got a bigger supercharged straight-six over its predecessor (the Model K), now resting at 6.8-litres. Power shot up to around 180bhp, thanks to wet cylinder liners, different cams with shorter timings and more lift, amongst other things.

It also shed some weight, too, weighing a whopping 230kg lighter than the K, at 1,270kg. It had a lower centre of gravity. The engine was mounted further back for better balance. You get the picture. Merc took its prized saloon and made it lighter, punchier and pointier.

In the month after its Nürburgring win, the Model S won the Baden-Baden Automobile Trophy. Then the Batschari Challenge Trophy. And then again at the Nürburgring, this time a 1-2-3 podium finish for three Model S racers. It continued to win at other races you’ve probably never heard of too.

Better still, customers who wanted a slice of racing pedigree could buy ex-factory cars, as either four-seater open tourers, or straight-up cabriolets. Coachbuilders also took the chassis and made their own bodywork. Imagine being able to snap up the cars that did well at the recent Nürburgring 24 Hours?