Hitler’s car, the epitome of infamy. Photos from {=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/13/hitler-car-exerts-grim-fascination}www.theguardian.com{/link}

In the annuals of infamy, one name dominates the top spot:  Adolf Hitler. During his time as Chancellor, there were more than 40 known attempts on Hitler’s life. To ensure der Fuhrer’s safety, his crew designed a special Mercedes Grosser 770 limousine for the leader of the party and his top staff. In all, seven of these infamous custom limousines were made for Hitler and used on an alternating basis.

Hitler did not know how to drive but loved being driven around in the finest that was available.

Mercedes designed these limos specifically to protect the ruler, and his closest staff members. Three versions were created by the Daimler Benz of Stuttgart. The first versions were unarmored. Later versions were armored with a final larger and more powerful version, called the Staatskarosse, made for what was to become the end of the war. The Canadian War Museum owns one of the armored versions of these cars.

The armored version was clad with the best steal plating of the time, and bullet-proofed. Weighing nearly five tons, the heavyweight monsters could reach slightly over 93 mph with its 230 horsepower engine. Without armor these machines could achieve 145 mph.

The large steering wheel and dash show the devil was in the details.

The Benz’s doors were armored with bulletproof glass, and there were separate front seats for the driver and passenger with a bench style rear passenger seat. Immediately behind the front seats were three additional folding jump seats to hold additional passengers if needed.

The Benz was outfitted with a mine-proof floor and bulletproof glass for additional protection. One of the most unusual features of these staff cars was the rotational armored plate in the back that was raised to protect the passengers as needed. The car was also built with features like secret compartments where extra pistols were stored. One hidden compartment in the dash and two in the rear for the extra armament.

We can only think of the irony of the “suicide” door and Hitler.

Hitler’s Benz limos had a number of unique features like the ornamental hole in the radiator, four vents directly beneath the windscreen, two door hinges on either side, a pair of short (curved) side rear windows, and twenty cooling slits on both sides of the central hinge on top of the bonnet. These features were not included on any other Mercedes 770K Limousines.

Hitler did not know how to drive, but did enjoy being driven around in cars that had a command presence. These limos reportedly guzzled gas at the rate of three miles to the gallon. No wonder the Reich suffered serious gas shortage during the later stages of the war.