The Mercedes-Benz 380 is an eight-cylinder powered automobile introduced by the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz at the Berlin Motor Show in February 1933. It was withdrawn from production during 1934. Several models with similar names were produced by Mercedes-Benz during the 1930s, so that in retrospect the car is frequently identified using the manufacturer's Works Number as the W22. In 1933, the 380 sports tourer was one of the most advanced cars on the market, and was duly admired although in the end, with only 154 produced over two years, it proved in some respects a resounding failure.
Engines
The engines started out as the straight-eight from the car's predecessor, but the side-valves in the earlier car were now replaced by overhead valves. A new two-barrel carburetor was also fitted. More newsworthy was the availability of a Kompressor, which instantly established the car's credentials as technologically advanced,. in common with other luxury cars of the period, such as the Duesenberg SJ and Cord 810. The least powerful version carried the engine code "M22". It came without a compressor and provided a listed maximum output of at 3,200 rpm. This supported a claimed top speed of 120 km/h. Adding a supercharger raised the maximum output to at 3,400 rpm and top speed to 130 km/h. The car was also available with an "Integrated Kompressor" which changed the engine code to "M22K" and further raised the maximum power to, now at 3,600 rpm. Top speed was 135 km/h or 145 km/h, depending on the final drive ratio fitted.
In bare chassis form the listed price of the W22 was 13,000 Marks and many buyers will have chosen to buy a car body separately from a bespoke coach builder. Cars using any one of the six standard Mercedes-Benz bodies were all listed at 19,500 Marks. A four-door "Limousine" body was offered along with a traditional Torpedo bodied 2 door “Tourenwagen”. There was a "Sport-Roadster" and three different cabriolet bodied cars, designated the "Cabriolet A", the "Cabriolet B" and the "Cabriolet C". The principal differences involved the number of seats and the number of side windows.
Commercial
The Mercedes-Benz W22 was widely admired for its advanced high performance engine, for its sophisticated independent suspension and for the stylish elegance of the bodies. Its handling characteristics were infinitely superior to those of high powered cars from competitor manufacturers who were still using rigid axle based suspension configurations. However, this led to calls for still more raw speed, and in 1934 the 380/W22 was replaced by the 500K a slightly larger car with a significantly larger engine and, where a Kompressor was specified, of power. After less than two years, production of the Typ 380 ceased, with 154 built. Just seven were lightweight, open, two-seat sporting roadsters bodied by Mercedes-Benz’s own Sindelfingen coachworks.
