1938 Mercedes-Benz 130H – Auction Car of the Week

Now here’s something you don’t see every day! Or any day really for that matter because the Mercedes-Benz 130H was built in such small numbers, and this particular car is thought to be the only example currently in the UK. So yeah, pretty rare then.

Not only is it a lesser spotted model made out of hen’s teeth, but it was also overshadowed, rather unfairly we might add, by another rear-engined runabout from Germany in the 1930s. Yep, whilst the VW Beetle may have stolen the spotlight somewhat, the accomplishments of the 130H are no less diminished and Mercedes-Benz’s very first four-cylinder effort is no less capable, or cute we hasten to add.

The design of the 130H was very much informed by the economic climate in Germany at the time. It was the beginning of the 1930s – the inter-war period – and the country was in a state of flux. It was a time of instability and increased inflation which saw many manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz included, begin to offer more affordable modes of transport and the 130H was quite the departure from the large, opulent cars that M-B were historically renowned for at the time.

Mercedes’ ‘Heckmotor’, or rear-engined era was a bit of a flash in the pan, now all but forgotten, but it’s survivors like this 130H that still shine a light on what is now just a footnote in the German firm’s rich history, reminding classic car enthusiasts of a sadly underappreciated automobile in the grand Mercedes oeuvre.

The design of the 130 was very much inspired by the ‘Streamline Moderne’ movement of the period – a stylistic shift that would permeate all corners of international culture, from architecture to household appliances and anyone who’s ever been on holiday to the German Alps will notice certain similarities, especially as far as colour choice is concerned, between this 130H and traditional Bavarian houses at the time.

Underneath all of that streamlined, aerodynamic-derived bodywork though is a pretty basic setup. Powered by a 1.3-litre, four cylinder engine mated to a three-speed gearbox with overdrive, the 130H was far from performance oriented, but it was practical and to be fair to the little guy it could cruise at 50mph quite happily, something it is still very much capable of. Suspension was taken care of by a rear swingarm set up with coil springs at the back and transverse leaf springs up front and while handling wasn’t the car’s strongest feature, it certainly rode better than anything anyone else was building back then.

The example we have available via our auctions platform is the very definition of the word ‘survivor’. A matching numbers example from the first year of production and rife with documented history, this 130H is believed to have been delivered new to its first custodian in Switzerland before the War. Luckily the car was hidden away in a cellar during the conflict, only to be rediscovered decades later during renovation work. Oh how we all love a ‘barn find’.

In need of a tad more than a bit of spit and polish it was then fully restored from derelict condition during the early ’90s. In a culmination of over a thousand hours of work and extensive research the restoration project was completed in 2001 and the little Benz immediately began winning trophies. The car was then retired from active duty where it remained largely unused in a static collection.

The current vendor acquired the Mercedes in October 2020 and commenced further recommissioning work to bring the car to the magazine feature worthy condition it now presents in, with its most recent accolades including ‘Car of Show’ at the Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC in November 2021 and the Marshals’ Trophy at the 2024 Daventry Festival. This is far from a show pony though and thankfully it now enjoys regular use, is always MOT tested, and kept in a dehumidified garage when not out and about putting smiles on the face of not just its owner, but any passer by who’s lucky enough to catch a glimpse as it pootles along.

What we have here then, is an ultra rare glimpse at an incredibly niche segment of Mercedes-Benz history that can and should continue to be driven and enjoyed by its next lucky owner. Head on over to the listing for the full, hugely detailed write up before chucking in your bid. Forget your Beetles, we’ll take this Mercedes-Benz 130H dankeschön.