1914 GP Mercedes=Rolls Royce Aero?

[BobE]

I was watching a show called "Racing Mercedes" on the Speed Channel. They said one of the winning 1914 Grand Prix Mercedes race cars was impounded in England at the outbreak of WWI and Rolls Royce was given access to the engine which "was used as the basis for their aircraft engines" during the war.
I am sure this is not new info for our technophobes but I thought it was interesting if true. Kind of a "hoist by your own petard" story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bob E

[Cigogne]

One of these 1914 Mercedes was also raced in the US. by Ralph DePalma, a contemporary of Eddie Rickenbacker. The US government also seized this one and Ralph had to beg them to use it in the race. Packard was given custody of the car and studied it as well and incorporated many ideas from it into their Liberty series of engines, or so the story goes. I read about it in the "Star"... no not the supermarket slander "rag"... but rather the Mercedes Club of America's club magazine from some years back.

Cigogne

[BobE]

Yeah. I know that car well. I have a strong interest in the early days of auto racing. Gorden Bennet, Vanderbilt Cup and early Indianapolis in particular.
I guess the beginnings of things is what I find interesting. During the trial and error phase you get all sorts of interesting ideas; steam,big engines,small engines, detachable rims,then wheels,etc. Before the rule makers take over you get really off beat stories. Joe Tracy breaks a bolt during the Vanderbilt. Takes the car to a local blacksmith shop and fashions himself a new bolt and goes back in the race. No, he didn't win but thats not the point. Every one knows the story of De Palma breaking down on the last lap at Indy and he and his mechanic pushing the car for a mile and a half to the finish line. No, he didn't win either.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bob E

[Cigogne]

But, in 1915 that same car did win with DePalma at the wheel at Indianapolis. The engine was 4.5 liter according to Daimler's website.

Cigogne

[Roundel]

The United States Air Force Museum website has a number of WWI aircraft engines:

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum.