Starting the 1909 Blitzen-Benz, UNEDITED, @ Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

[@sophiaherschel567]

Tis is not just a car, it is both a technical masterpiece and a piece of art. Absolutely beautiful.

[@CIoudStriker]

Truly. Look at that tasteful livery, all of the mirror-polished brass.

[@KrustyKlown]

6:35 Art in Motion!!! Beautiful!!! Got to love that "pedestrian safe" radiator design, quickly relieves undo suffering in a pedestrian collision.

[@michaeltomaszek1307]

Quick death by german Mercedes Benz 21,5 litre

[@tim2015]

"Pedestrians? On our road?"

[@williamkerr3350]

Looks like it would be perfect position to take out the aorta of an adult.

[@nevermind-he8ni]

Engineering becomes artwork. Imagine the pride in building one. It really shows.

[@ExplizitDuester]

That's why you wait with a running engine ;)

[@marimgggg.7525]

Não falei nada.

[@fredgervinm.p.3315]

And the Germans are carrying on Workmanship.

[@woopimagpie]

I just saw one of these going flat out around the track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Bloody fantastic. It was in a race with a whole lot of similar machines (including the "Beast of Turin"), all of which were also going flat out, it was the most epic thing I think I've ever seen.

[@CamaroMann]

And heard, I guess.

[@brianburman6580]

It's so nice to hear the Benz. My great-great uncle Bob Burman drove this car. Thanks Bob !!

[@EarthAdvocate]

Brian, this is the greatest comment of all! Thanks for checking in, and I hope your family has a treasure trove of stories, pictures and pride for what your great-great uncle achieved. They were true pioneers back then, with skill, and nerves of steel.

[@bennyhannover9361]

+EarthAdvocate You are absolutely right, Bob Burman achieved several International Records in 1911, with flying start over a kilometer he reached 226,7 km/ h, about 141,5 m/h . over a mile 228,1 km/h nearly 143 m/h and also kept 225,9 km/h after 2 miles and added several american records over 2,3,5 and 20 miles to that. He sure was the fastest man ever for about 16 years(?!) until the big Sunbeams appeared.

[@Pr1v3sc]

+Brian Burman yeah its the greatest comment of all, you've got no idea how many people came to this clip to learn a little more about Bob

[@keithlarcombe4694]

Well at least I learnt something while waiting for them to start it.

[@leeisaac4642]

He didn't drive it much then

[@DasPolarlichtlein]

@EarthAdvocate *actually 8 cars were built.* 1935 mercedes benz built car no.7 (shown in this video) partially with parts from car no.6, and remaining parts from car no.3, which 1922 was almost fully destroyed in a crash. and 2004 an american collector built car no.8 with help of mercedes benz. as a model for the private project, the mercedes benz museum provided him with his own blitzen benz (car no.7) for one year. in order for the replica to be as true to the original as possible, he received the parts of the crash car (no.3) in the mercedes magazine, including the engine no.9141 and a few ancillaries. parts of an original body still existed in the united states. greetings from germany 🙂

[@andywolf100]

What a beautiful piece of engineering!

[@thomasschwarting5108]

Makes me think of chitty-chitty bang bang

[@bucc5207]

"Gentlemen, start your engines!" Crowd takes a nap.

[@MyMathex]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@MulletMTB69]

That's a good funny

[@theleo77]

7min of my life that I will NEVER get it back...

[@mitchellpeters1527]

@@theleo77 u wouldve wasted it anyway on another video

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Um, yeah..interesting. 👍😉

[@bobbob4652]

Whoever piloted that to 140mph back in the day, had balls of pure German steel.

[@Bierschiss667]

Balls of Kruppstahl!

[@ushoys]

After someone else started the engine for him

[@TheCartercat]

bob bob You mean he had rusty balls?

[@lionsteinmetz7672]

@@jacobhall979 thats a german car and by that time

[@jakobtroyer1240]

140km/h not miles!🤦‍♂️

[@NeilIves]

I've seen an Early, (1912 I think) Rolls Royce started like this; no starter motor used! First prime the cylinders by turning the engine over a couple of turns. Press a button to turn on a trembler coil; similar to a door bell. The trembler coil fires a high voltage coil that makes the spark plug that is in a cylinder on the compression stroke fire, igniting fuel that was sucked in during priming. The engine runs and the magneto takes over the spark!

[@dizzywilliams3557]

thank you neil.

[@markflierl1624]

I was wonder how it started.

[@JollyMcStanson]

I was wondering how it started with out the crank also.

[@michaelszczys8316]

That’s what I thought. Almost started a car that way once, except it went the wrong direction a few turns

[@charlesparadise969]

Great info Neil. I just learned a lot from you. I wondered how it worked.

[@p.f.886]

That's exactly the same amount of time needed to start a car in horror films.

[@hackd6959]

😂😂😂😂

[@steffenrosmus9177]

Nope the same amount of time to start any common American car from the 1970- 90ies

[@fredgervinm.p.3315]

That was good.

[@ericstiles9708]

And they are all 5.0 sounds in movies

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

Same amount of time it takes to walk to town! 🤓

[@oldwombat3630]

Why is this car not in the Louvre? More a piece of art than a A to B contraption. Sumptuous piece of design and workmanship. 21.5 litres though. Hats off to those responsible for the suspension and ballast design.

[@Wa3ypx]

Lovely! Just superb legs at 3:47. That is the work of true craftsmanship!

[@winnie-the-poohahaha4428]

Tooth picks

[@Hastur876]

Down grandpa.

[@justhacked593]

I have to admit, I was checking out the MILF in the background as well.

[@benm5221]

Beautiful machine. Can only imagine the awe and wonder of a boy watching this back in 1909. Like the Star Trek Enterprise to a kid now.

[@cliffordkiehl3959]

It would have been better with narration. I think he was getting one of the pistons to TDC before engaging the starter. Also, turning the engine over prior to start spread oil on the walls of the cylinders to make the starting easier and provide some protection to the cylinder walls. But I am just guessing and would have liked an explanation.

[@johnkempton5269]

Not just a car guy but a machinery guy. This is very special. Thanks guys.

[@clinthymes5067]

Dad, can I borrow the Benz? Sure son if you can get it started!

[@EleanorPeterson]

Don't be silly, Clint! The family that could afford such a beast would have had great herds of tame chauffeurs roaming the grounds of their Schloss. In fact, I'll bet even the chauffeurs had their own butlers and footmen, so the start-up would have been an even more complicated affair. "Always follow the chain of command..." Worth waiting for, though! ;-)

[@clinthymes5067]

Elli P great point! Lol

[@sly2392]

i was 9 years old when this video started. i am 67 now.

[@Scott-vx2ks]

"Hurry" the cops are coming... Just give me another 10 more minutes.

[@caratcranker5874]

@@Scott-vx2ks Das coppers, Das coppers! we are Das fuckenheimered.

[@TheMattzki]

Ha ha i know....i grew a fkin beard watching this

[@sly2392]

@@TheMattzki hella funny.

[@tonytiger943]

@sly123 it’s 2.45am, everyone in the house *was* asleep. Then I read that. 😂😂🤣🤣🤣😭😭👍👍

[@brianball426]

I can't think of enough words to describe how awesome that car is and to see how it started and ran....

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

Magnificent German engineering! Wouldn't expect less!

[@azynkron]

"Hans, what are you toing with ze car?" "I'm starting him up for ze roat trip on Freitag, Greta.." "But itz only Wednesday!"

[@keihlafrane2423]

What da f@ck..hahaha

[@MeisterPommfritt]

I know, Greta. I‘m pretty late this week.

[@drumphil00]

Well, I'm never going to complain about how hard my lawn mower is to start again.

[@wolfdog1987]

It's like a living piece of art! As a car guy, i definitely appreciate the revving. Thanks for the video!

[@milanstefanovic3854]

Imagine 140 mph with that huge chain spinning near your right arm. Scary and fantastic at the same time. Drivers of the era deserve more than just respect.

[@alfonsocruz6156]

That engine sound is music to my ears and a hymn to the automóvil engineering 👍

[@jarnominodagostino9848]

So you are telling me that this thing runs at 140 mph without a diff on the back????? 😱😱😱😱

[@joevs21001]

Absolutely incredible piece of history and machinery. It is hard to believe that this car is 102 years old and still runs beautifully. I'm sure it has been fully restored and the engine has been completely rebuilt (if not multiple times) but it is still amazing that this machine purrs the way it does. I would give anything to own even a replica of this car. My all time dream car is a 1929 Bentley 4.5 litre but this is probably a very close second. This machines are incredible.

[@joshjablonicky171]

The car is a beautiful piece of art all on its own. I couldn't imagine driving that car back in the day and comparably nothing was fast and nothing was near as fast as that thing was.

[@justmechanicthings]

"Sorry I'm late boss, I decided to drive in today"

[@rafaeltorres2886]

you should of taken the horse.

[@karolpasiut8124]

In any reasonably big european (or Japanese) city this would be taken seriously. To get to my previous workplace in Cracow it took me, door to door: 40 min on foot, or 25 min by streetcar or 10 min riding a bicicle or more than an hour driving and parking (anything larger than Ford Contour doesn't fit anywhere anyways)

[@EarthAdvocate]

Check out the other video, that includes an interview about this car, with Nate Lander. Think of this as a dragster or Formula race car from 103yrs ago: its 'gas mileage' was approximately TEN gallons PER MILE. 21.5 litres, four cylinder. 200hp, when a Ford barely put out 20hp. Twice as fast as the world's fastest plane at the time puts things in perspective.

[@TheDoItYourselfWorld]

That car is absolutely beautiful!! Back when people took pride in their work.

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

So great to see these beautiful old cars preserved for future generations to see! Nice video!

[@scottpecora371]

1909, how sweet it was. I can just see the engineers sitting around the design table when some had to ask in German of course. "So; do you think this is sufficient displacement to be competitive guys, or do we need to think bigger?"

[@like2view]

It might go something like this... please any Germans... correct this!! "So glaubt euch es reicht mit der Verdrängerungsraum oder sollen wir noch grösser überlegen? "

[@realulli]

@@like2view "Was denkt ihr, reicht der Hubraum oder sollen wir groesser planen?" (Not quite exact, but probably closer to what they were saying/thinking :-))

[@BilgeRat]

I'll get you Penelope Pitstop!! When I can start this damn car.

[@RCScaleAirplanes]

What a beauty. Respect !

[@cliffordsikora9841]

What a beautiful piece of machinery

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Beautiful machine. Great video ! 👍

[@LiamStroudy09]

Never ceases to amaze me. What a beautiful machine. Great video!

[@IDontWantAHandle101]

Start stop technology has come a long way since 1909 :-)

[@12theotherandrew]

1/10th of this video was really interesting. 9/20ths were repetitions guff.

[@vetb882]

Dude, I'm almost crying. 1909? The soul of this car beats in my E55. Shes put away for the winter 3 days now and I already miss her. Every other car maker is still playing catch up. MB invented the automobile. :-D

[@fredfinks]

Those krauts have made some awesome cars over the years. Donner und Blitzen! Let's hope their car industry lasts a thousand years, at least.

[@vetb882]

Hahaha, love the santa reference. I think it will. Mine has 70k on it and feels newer and tighter than most new cars.

[@nigelnorth5835]

Hi are you saying Mercedes Benz invented the car?? Am pretty sure most authorities give the credit to Daimler

[@thirteenfingers]

The thing I find most amazing about this... is that someone actually FIGURED OUT this starting sequence in the first place!

[@PiefacePete46]

@thirteenfingers : The did it by trial and lots of errors! 😉

[@kenzachow]

I'm already late for work and have to start up this thing lol

[@tyelav13]

As beautiful as it is and as fast as I am sure it is I would have walked wherever I was going before I could start it!

[@topivaltanen4432]

Using this when going to work only mean you have to wake up little bit earlier than with modern car.

[@davelowets]

@@topivaltanen4432 ALOT earlier..

[@ericp.9497]

What's the maximum depth that it can safely dive to?

[@danceswithstone]

Oh, it can go all the way to the bottom.

[@gerald4027]

@@GilligansIslandSurferDuke.me balls will be crunched at those depth.

[@flippert0]

Needed a second to notice the reference to "Das Boot" and "Johann"

[@iancampbell8649]

Since I started to watch this, I've had 46 work christmas parties and I'm still waiting for the car to start :) All I can see is a damn heavy paperweight :)

[@michaelmika2995]

The registration clearly states, "NOT TO BE USED FOR BANK ROBBERIES."

[@ja-is2lf]

Engineers in 1909 hadn't yet solved the mystery of how to jump start a car. Every time they tried to put the jumper cables on, the horse would kick them and run off.

[@lukewarmwater6412]

when you compare this to getting a horse in harness and the cart hooked up, it is fairly close as far as time taken and work done.... and this thing will stay where you park it, unless it has help, it wont run off.

[@earthtruthhunters1642]

ja 300- can't trust a single horse...

[@ranavalona24]

Whatever you do, don't stall at the lights!

[@kengoodey]

That's not an engine, it's a work of art.

[@xeduxion4698]

Respect: Beautiful car by original geniuses! Must have been strenuous to engineer it. Today's are simply an improved works of our ingenious ancestors!

[@DrCrabfingers]

Seeing the drive chain @ 1:36 reminds me of the world speed record attempt in 1927 using a similar car....the driver was leaning out of the cockpit to watch the front wheels and the drive chain broke and took his head clean off. Parry-Thomas.....Pendine Sands, Wales. An urban myth apparently....but the thought popped into my head. Merry Christmas.

[@robertpeters2741]

I raced one of these at Daytona, the race was over before I got it started.

[@1100HondaCB]

I'm intrigued. I bet that car is priceless. Seems well engineered and I love the attention to detail. I bet those pistons are huge. Does the crankshaft run on shell bearings supported on five journels like today's four cylinder engines?

[@Uajd-hb1qs]

Once the worlds fastest method of transport. I don’t think anyone can comprehend that. It’s not just a land speed record, it’s an overall record. That puts it on the same scale as the X-15 hypersonic aircraft, not the land speed record cars. The fastest manned vehicle anywhere. Incredible.

[@rickreid81]

What a great rare car! That's when starting an engine was a selabrated event! What a record setter.

[@peterherrington3300]

Didn't fancy school then ? *Celebrated*

[@rudyduee6849]

Merveilleuse mécanique, et très propre ! Félicitations.

[@rbnhood39]

What an incredible piece of engineering, especially for the time period.

[@heyitsmasae5888]

5:10 he was dying to turn/wind that thing. 😂

[@heruapriyanto172]

OMG the ritual make me crazzy😀😀 But I love the ancient technology... The man who made that is a superman...

[@fixplanes]

Now all we need is someone who can shoot good video.

[@leokimvideo]

Sounds much the same as a modern day diesel Benz

[@mercomania]

They are a lot easier to start though😀

[@small-china]

@@mercomania not in russian winter -50

[@ДрачёвыйНапильник-ф9б]

Это не дизель,бензин и свечи походе современного типа

[@larryhullinger4141]

A modern day diesel isn't a huge pain in the ass to start

[@eg1789]

No it doesnt.... check your ears.

[@jackfrost2146]

Not the best getaway car for bank robberies.

[@garfius]

Reaches 228.1 kilometres per hour (141.7 mph)... once you spend 30 minutes to start the engine.

[@Johnclark300]

Jack Frost it is if you leave it running

[@danceswithstone]

rrrrrrright. . . leave it running. John should be in charge : )

[@efini_fc4276]

Could you sell the car for more than the bank has on hand and be gone in 55-60 seconds?

[@SuperDanMega]

Not your type of car, most definitely not, a total sure bust.

[@DavidVerbout]

Knowing how sharply you have to get the timing, and how difficult it may be to start - Why would you shut it down so quickly?

[@EarthAdvocate]

This was done on Sunday, the showcase day at Pebble Beach, and while the requirement is that all cars be functional and must be driven onto the course under their own power for the day, it was started up as a demonstration for those present a few times during the day. With 21+litres, in a 100+ year old FOUR cylinder engine, everything conspires to make it a circus act to pull off. I don't know the compression ratio on that engine, but given the displacement my guess is that it is pretty low, at least by today's standards. What fuel were they using in 1909, vs what is available in the 21st Century? LOTS of reasons to sit back and marvel at the fact that its speed on the beach, at 140mph wasn't matched even by an airplane for nearly ten years.

[@Strategic1now]

I'm getting a lot of old recommended this is 9 years old now it'll come around when covid comes back. Let's go Brandon!

[@peterreed8349]

Fast forward to 6:27...

[@wharris302]

The whole point of this video is the starting process. you're rude.

[@wharris302]

+FichDichInDemArsch Conor you be anymore ignorant?

[@crankbv1]

+FichDichInDemArsch Back in the early 60s I was at a vintage race meeting at the Oulton Park racing circuit here in the UK and was stood beside this car when it was fired up for a run. As I recall,three people came across the paddock area.One climbed in,and after a few moments preparation the other two cranked the engine. It started and was away to the start line in certainly less than 2 minuets from cold. No fuss,no problems. Someone here just doesn't have a clue..and it shows.

[@lobmin]

@Ben Bucci Oh come on now

[@dorsetdumpling5387]

The words: “steampunk”, “ridiculous”, and “wonderful” spring to mind…

[@friskahapsari6549]

more than 5 litre in one cylinder, wowwww

[@doalwa]

The perfect bank heist car :-)

[@FRANKMEHORSE]

better leave it running

[@TheRidestv]

bill mcgillem might run out of gas though

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Cop car ????

[@ronitsingh85]

Man those lightened rockers helped it achieve a few extra miles! Talk about a massive heavy engine. But boy it sure is pretty, low RPM and loads of torque. Engine deserves to have a nameplate on each bank for sure!

[@susannakristiina3514]

The car was started. Me: What a journey!

[@scottprendergast2680]

Susanna Kristiina yes and by the looks of things after that "very weird" head pat the car wasnt the only thing started UP

[@ChewmeBacon]

Double speed record for top speed and slowest start sequence in history.

[@mescko]

As a hopeless gearhead, there is nothing more mesmerizing that exposed rocker gear.

[@ernestogasulla7763]

Even if this oldie does 140 mph, you could arrive faster in a 30 mph car with a starter.

[@tjroelsma]

But would it be as much fun? What a machine.

[@BriggsGuy54]

Picture doing this every morning before work...

[@patricia2645]

My God, My Great Uncle Barney Oldfield won the Indy in 1909 in this car! This is great! I still have a cute '69 280sl I bring out of the garage for a fun day. Love the Benz

[@fengshui3382]

110 years old now (2019) 😍

[@brianx2504]

1909- pushrods were great techology 2016- chevy STILL puts them in their engines

[@hyzercreek]

+Brian X Pushrods were invented in 1902 by David Buick, in Detroit

[@brianx2504]

No, its because they are cheap. Instead of adding new technology for better performance they would rather put in the old tech and sell you a truck with a fancy interior for $50k

[@gorakshnathgaikwad2369]

Bri

[@olddogcitypound5859]

Brian X so does Harley

[@HaraldSjellose]

Brian X they also give better low rev torque

[@traveladventuresandfoods.6195]

hey guys ...do not compare the start up time with todays technology . may be this would have been fastest start up time in 1909. this however is a classic piece of engineering of that time. appreciate the people who kept it in this shape that it looks like new even after more than 100 years.

[@cordesruss]

Nothing like a good head rub @ 5:56...

[@przemyslawkroliszewski2322]

Almost as complex as setting up proxy on Apache on kubernetes pods on kvm on qemu on Centos 7.

[@photojones1]

That's what I was just thinking!

[@trentonmccall1045]

I think this video should say, "He did something in the cockpit, he did something on the far side of the car while the camera showed a closeup of his shirt, he tweaked some unknown stuff on the firewall, some other guy turned a crank, the camera followed bits and pieces of it, and the engine started."

[@tricitiesair]

1312 cubic inch inline 4. Must have pistons the size of a dinner plate.

[@ryann8680]

Your forgot to add the Fahrvergnügen

[@wildman510]

From what it looks like you first prime the engine by cranking it with no ignition, then fire the tremblers when the engine is top dead center so the fuel ignites, and if it doesent start you have to do it again.

[@cageordie]

If you fired it at top dead center the crank and connecting rod would be in line and the engine wouldn't turn. So you'd have to align it just a tiny bit after.

[@angel_dawn_morningstar]

I'm hoping that MASSIVE chain is part of the braking system and not the drive line ...looks dangerous

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

There was a driver that lost his head when a drive chain snapped durring a race.

[@RATADATUAVELHA]

"hello boss? my car won't start...I'm cant go to work today, sorry"

[@felixramos3078]

What a beauty. I assumed, that whomever owned one of those cars, at the turned of the 21 century, was never on time. I could have taken a shower, eat my breakfast, and read the morning paper, with the time that took to start that monster. Oh, and ride my bicycle to work too. But again, that was like owning a spaceship back then.

[@grigorirasputin9507]

I'm off to work honey! OK, have a good day! One hour later... I thought you were going to work? STILL PRIMING!!!!

[@adrienperie6119]

2:50 If it backfires I'm pretty sure it would rip this guy's forearm right off. I sure wouldn't wanna be the button pusher guy.

[@arburo1]

+Adrien Perié He wasn't cranking the engine to start it. What he was doing is what is called 'starting off the switch'. When he was cranking it he was getting the mixture into the cylinders and leaving it at exactly the correct position, ie, just after top dead centre. He then turned on the spark, probably by moving the manual 'early-late' control or by operating the trembler coil, if it has one for starting. Once running, it gets its sparks from the magneto. Two can be seen low down. Starting off the switch is a trick that can be done on high quality engines in good condition, usually when they are still hot. I can do it on my 1926 Rolls Royce.

[@adrienperie6119]

arburo1 Yes but that's the thing, it still could backfire while he cranks it is what I meant to say

[@arburo1]

+Adrien Perié That won't happen. If there is a trembler coil it is not turned on whilst slow cranking. The magnetos will not produce a spark at cranking speeds. For extra safety he can switch off the magneto on the dash before cranking. The magneto has an earthing switch on the dash for switching it off, as required to stop the engine. So no spark when he cranks slowly. No broken arm.

[@adrienperie6119]

arburo1 It looked like here 3:32 he was pressing the ignition button while the other guy had his arm in the way of the lever in case of backfire, I'm not talking about the slow cranking, I'm talking about button pusher guy, the one standing in front of the car.

[@arburo1]

+Adrien Perié After cranking, the main man disconnects the crank from the crankshaft by pulling forward slightly. This dislocates the driving dogs that locate the crank onto the nose of the crankshaft.

[@katarinaericka-kristavonbr7000]

Gut Schabbas!!! Wirglisch Wunderschä!!! It is so nice to see this vehicle and to see the Prussian Emblem, Prussia May be gone due to my great grandparents and grandparents dismay, but when historical relic survive that is amazing just as it’s amazing that my grandparents from East Prussia had their synagogue rebuilt by the Russian-Soviet occupiers of East Prussia at this time

[@Espligo]

It had to do 140mph to make up for the time it takes to start it ... ffs!

[@EleanorPeterson]

Fabulous. Also: "Hey, when I say, 'chain-driven', I mean 'CHAIN-DRIVEN'. Sweeeeeeet...

[@MrCrrispy]

This (not so) recent youtube feature with the graph of most viewed moments is really useful :-)

[@truckingscouser]

Gentlemen, start your engines! 20 minutes later...brum brum :-D

[@stefantwotimes]

Haha right:-)

[@emmettcarr2988]

lol it sounds like a lawn mower! but this really is a beautiful car.

[@kindchild2895]

I wouldn’t bother driving the 300 metres to the shops with this car.

[@michaelmika2995]

This just in, there's an opening for a mechanic at Mercedes-Benz motors. Not much starting experience necessary.

[@michaelmika2995]

I'm waiting for the Japanese version to come out.

[@FoXWoR]

has some vibe of a barista working on his apparatus for some delicious coffee .. Thanks for sharing! - haha

[@rz350lc]

The exposed valvegear looks as dry as a dry bone. Hope he lubed it up a bit beforehand.

[@KutWrite]

The exposed part doesn't rub on anything.