The Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen was an experimental, streamlined, high-speed automobile produced in the late 1930s. This car was derived from the open-wheeled race car Mercedes-Benz W125 Formel-Rennwagen that was designed for the 1937 Grand Prix season.

One difference between the two cars was the Formel-Rennwagen had to adhere to the 750 kg (1,653 lb) weight limit for Grand Prix cars. The Grand Prix car had the 8-cylinder inline M125 engine, which was rather tall. The Rekordwagen was fitted with a V12 engine that was lower, which reduced drag.

On January 28, 1938, Rudolf Caracciola, set an average speed record of 432.7 km/h (268 mph) over the flying kilometer driving the Rekordwagen on the Autobahn between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. This speed record on public roads would remain until 2017 when Niklas Lilja driving a Koenigsegg Agera RS reached 445 km/h (276.9 mph) on a closed highway in Nevada.

The car is on display in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org