1902 Benz crashes on London to Brighton run

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Stratman

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Like the title says, a 1902 Benz was involved in a three car collision on the London to Brighton run. Six people were injured, including two seriously from the Benz.

_98625117_hi042825311.jpg


Let's hope they recover soon.
 
Like the title says, a 1902 Benz was involved in a three car collision on the London to Brighton run. Six people were injured, including two seriously from the Benz.

_98625117_hi042825311.jpg


Let's hope they recover soon.

Do we know what happened?


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That's the Simplex from the Mercedes Museum by the look of it - see the headlights.

Those London-Brighton drivers are braver (dafter) than I. Shudder.

I'm thinking it must be this one, although the wheel colour's different

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What happens when a car like this is totalled? Obviously it’s going to be insured for a hefty sum but it’s a piece of history. It’s not a case of oh well it’s written off let’s claim the insurance and buy another one.
 
That's the Simplex from the Mercedes Museum by the look of it - see the headlights.

Those London-Brighton drivers are braver (dafter) than I. Shudder.

I'm thinking it must be this one, although the wheel colour's different

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I think the only similarity is the lamps are both brass..otherwise totally different.
 
But how many 1902 Mercs are there in the World? (Someone here will know...).

The Museum one is a two-seater "racer," I think....
 
I have a few pics I took exactly 25 years ago at the start of the run in Hyde Park - quite a few Mercedes, not sure about Benz (weren't they separate brands back then?).

Could be one of these:

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Got a few scanned in a while ago:

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26447425539_5a27a50673_o.jpg
 
quite a few Mercedes, not sure about Benz (weren't they separate brands back then?)

Yes - Benz and Mercedes (Daimler) were separate makes till the 20s when the companies merged to form Mercedes-Benz.
 
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Benz Tonneau 1902?
 
Hi,
When I was younger we used to do the Commercial London to Brighton in a 1914 Dennis Fire engine.
I recently found some photos on the net by putting the registration number of the fire engine - taken by a keen photographer at the 1971 event.
We were lucky to be hosting the Magpie children’s TV program.
In the photo below my father is driving, I am in the middle - next to Susan Stranks. Pete Brady and Tony Bastable are on the back!
DAFD32AC-8115-42B2-9E49-754FD8E4D387.jpeg
Cheers
Steve
 
Can you imagine how you would feel if, used to driving more modern cars, you were driving that Benz down a steep hill and the brakes failed? No crumple zones, no protective bodywork, no seat belts, nothing? I can, but I'd really rather not. I hope the crew were/will be OK.

I have to admit, if I'd been the driver, the smell after the crash would have been awful...
 

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