Advances in expertise have helped automakers run assessments on their autos even earlier than the check mule hits the highway. However manner earlier than the daybreak of computer systems, producers had a unique manner of accumulating knowledge and testing autos. The oldsters from Mercedes-Benz got here up with a fairly ingenious resolution involving a one-off 300 ‘Adenauer’.
Dubbed the Measuring Automobile (or Messwagen), it was a closely modified W189 reworked right into a two-door wagon. However why use a flagship sedan as a data-collecting automobile and never a lesser mannequin? Mercedes-Benz says it wanted a quick and huge automobile to observe the check automobile and transport the cumbersome measuring gadgets.
The Messwagen started its service in 1960. Regardless of its workhorse function, it is fairly trendy because of its stretched rear finish, panoramic home windows, and tailfins. The measuring tools plus an onboard generator is in the back of the automobile. That mentioned, these home windows will need to have made the rear part additional heat for the engineer accumulating knowledge on the again.
Powering this distinctive automobile is a 3.0-liter, straight-six engine that makes 160 horsepower (118 kilowatts). Whereas it does not sound like quite a bit lately, it was among the many strongest engines Mercedes-Benz produced on the time. The highest pace was about 75 mph (120 km/h) with all of the tools on board.
So how did this cellular laboratory assist out the engineers? The Messwagen was linked to a different automobile by way of a cable as much as 30 meters lengthy. The road transmitted knowledge to measuring gadgets within the Messwagen. The sensor knowledge from the automobile is recorded on a magnetic tape that may be analyzed after the highway check.
The Messwagen served Mercedes-Benz till the early 70s. Advances in expertise meant the necessity for all of the cables and ponderous tools waned, bringing the automobile to its retirement. Lately, pc simulations and wi-fi connections make it a lot simpler to measure and gather such issues. Nonetheless, it is nice seeing automobiles like these receiving the highlight as a substitute of ending up unloved and deserted in a scrapyard.
