1/43 50 yrs of Mercedes-Benz Safety Set NR

  

I'm thinning my collection of die cast 1/43rd scale Mercedes-Benz models. Here is a unique item for your collection. In 1952 Mercedes-Benz engineer Bela Barenyi patented the deformable body structure or crumple zone.

A passive safety design used by most passenger cars today. Mercedes-Benz first used it in production with the W111 series 180 model in 1959. Mercedes-Benz also pioneered crash testing of their vehicles during the design phase.

Without today's technology of high powered hydraulic cable systems, Mercedes used the simple method of small rocket powered sleds to push the test vehicle into a wall or another car or bus with pig cadavers being the pioneers of the crash test dummy strapped inside. This unique set made for Mercedes-Benz Classic by Spark Minimax celebrates 50 years of crash testing with a W111 attached to a rocket sled and mounted on a crash test replica base. Only available from the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which is where I bought it, you probably have not seen this item before. A great addition to your collection of Mercedes-Benz models or just for something different. In my collection since I carried it home from Germany the model has never been off of its base and is in like new condition with the clear plastic cover inside.

The model comes in a flip top gift box with commemorative Mercedes-Benz 50 Years logo. The gift box is a little shop worn, but complete. Good Luck and thanks for looking.