Weird Wagons: Mercedes-Benz 300 Messwagen

Turns out measuring car data in 1960 was a bit of a… mess…

Okay, that was a cheap shot. Messwagen translates to ‘measuring car’ and that’s what this one-off Mercedes-Benz is. A wagon created for the purposes of collecting data on other cars.

Built in 1960, the Measuring Car is based on a Mercedes-Benz 300 chassis. It packs a 3.0-litre dual-carburetted straight-six producing 118kW. It needed all of those kilowatts to move around equipment that was simply too heavy and cumbersome to move and assemble otherwise.

The rear is really well resolved for a one-off.

Despite being a unique solution to a tricky data-gathering problem, Mercedes-Benz only built one single example of the Messwagen. They wouldn’t build another fully in-house station wagon until 1977.

The scoop you see in the roof isn’t a part of the surprisingly fantastic styling, but a port into which cables connect. Much of the equipment we take for granted on cars now, such as accurate temperature gauges, accurate speedometers, air quality sensors and even direct torque and power sensors were considered lab equipment in 1960. To test such things, the Messwagen was required to drive alongside or behind the vehicle being tested while engineers in the back recorded measurements, all the while both vehicles being connected via cable!

Speaking of fantastic styling, for some unknown reason Mercedes went over-the-top on this one-off. We love the greenhouse windows that make up the rear, the futuristic-looking tailgate and the best part: Exhausts integrated into the chrome bumpers. Two-tone paint is a nice unnecessary touch.

To house the then-gigantic equipment required, Mercedes had to remove the seat pews and instead left a hilariously mismatching wicker chair for the onboard crew.

I'd be uncomfortable if both these vehicles were moving.

We’re not sure what cars this wagon would have been used for in real life. Given only one exists, it’s not as though it was part of a service fleet. We assume it was mainly for testing and diagnostics on Benz prototypes.

Is there even a remote chance you can get your hands on one of the rarest Benzes ever? 

No, no you can't. It’s a permanent installation in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, so on the bright side you can always go and take a look.

What do you think of this exceptionally rare Benz - a forgotten classic, or just a Mess? Tell us in the comments.

This is part of a series on Weird Wagons - see more here:

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