Aerodynamically, the T80 incorporated a Porsche-designed enclosed cockpit, low sloping hood, rounded fenders, and elongated tail booms. At the rear were two small wings to provide downforce and insure stability. The heavily streamlined twin-tailed body achieved a drag coefficient of 0.18, an astonishingly low figure for any vehicle.
Mercedes T80
Mercedes T80 land speed record car designed by aircraft engineer Josef Mickl, assignor by Ferdinand Porsche, with help from German racing driver Hans Stuck incorporated the third prototype aircraft engine DB-603 in the T-80. It ran off pure alcohol with MW injection and was tuned to 3,000 hp - enough to propel the aerodynamic three-axel T80 up to 750 km/h (465 mph) on the Dessau Autobahn in January 1940.By 1939, the T80 was fully completed at a cost of RM 600,000. It was powered by a massive 44.5 liter Daimler-Benz DB 603 inverted V12.The car was over 8 meters long (27 ft), had three axles with two of them driven, and weighed over 2.7 tons.
| Mercedes T80 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | 600,000 RM | |
| Power | 3,000 PS | |
| Zero to 60 mph | N/A | |
| Zero to 100 mph | N/A | |
| Top speed | 750 km/h (465 mph) | |