The company’s objective with the first eight cylinder Mercedes-Benz was to come up with a serious competitor to the Horch 8,[3] and Porsche’s work on the new car appears to have been very rushed.

The engine was a 4,622cc straight-8 side-valve unit for which maximum output was given as 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) at 3,400 rpm which translated into a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

[6] Both cars had an imposing height in this standard bodied form of 1,900 mm (75 in) even though the Horch had since its 1926 launch incorporated an “underlung” chassis.

The big old fashioned and very expensive Mercedes-Benz W08 of 1928 found few customers, and had to be replaced the next year with a more stylish version, now using an “underslung” chassis.

[10] The engine and most other technical details were carried over unchanged from the 1928 car including the ratios chosen for the four speed manual transmission.

[13] It is clear from surviving examples that many customers preferred to buy the car in base chassis form and have a bespoke body added by an independent coachbuilder, however.

On the other hand, with this model Mercedes were able to ensure that the market place dominance of the big Horch was no longer completely unchallenged.

Maximum output was now listed as 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 3,100 rpm and claimed top speed increased to 110 km/h (69 mph).

The 4,918cc 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) side-valve engine with its twin downdraft carburettor was unchanged, as were the four speed optional overdrive transmission, wheelbase, and list of standard body types.

The Mercedes-Benz W08 was never intended or expected to sell in massive volumes, and production totaled 3,824 cars during its eleven-year run between 1928 and 1939.