The automotive world is full of surprises, but some discoveries are truly breathtaking. Imagine stumbling upon a vehicle with a history as rich and complex as the 20th century itself. This is the story of such a find – a Mercedes-Benz 770K Tourenwagen, a car that whispers tales of bygone eras and powerful figures.
This isn’t just any classic car; it’s a Mercedes 770K (Type II, model W150), an automobile of immense rarity and value. To put it into perspective, only 88 of these majestic machines were ever produced, making each one a true collector’s gem, potentially worth millions. For those unfamiliar, the allure of such a vehicle extends beyond its monetary value. It’s about the engineering marvel, the handcrafted luxury, and the historical significance woven into its very chassis.
The intrigue deepens when we consider the reported origins of this particular Mercedes 1943. Rescued from Iraq in 2003, there’s a strong indication that this vehicle was once part of the infamous collection of Uday Hussein, son of Saddam Hussein. This connection opens a window into a world of opulence and authoritarian excess.
To understand the potential journey of this Mercedes 1943, we can look to a revealing article from Car & Driver magazine published around the time of the Iraq War. It offers a glimpse into the automotive hoarding of Saddam’s son:
As car collections go, Saddam’s was puny compared with his son Uday’s. Before Uday was killed in a shootout with U.S. troops, he is said to have acquired as many as 1300 vehicles, spread out in seven garages and all over the countryside. His collection had at least five $80,000 Excaliburs, and there were Bentleys, Bugattis, Astons, and a McLaren F1. Uday’s automotive menagerie was pruned in 1993, when his father accused him of disloyalty and in revenge destroyed some 50 of his cars.
Car collectors following these events no doubt chuckled at the tastelessness of the Iraqi dictator. What they were really hoping for was word on the status of the one car in all of Iraq that was a keeper: a cream-white 1935 Mercedes 500K roadster with flamboyant, baroque bodywork by Erdmann & Rossi, one of two in the world. Its original owner was King Ghazi, who ascended to the Iraqi throne in 1933 at the age of 21 and bought the car after seeing it at a 1935 exhibition in Barcelona. The king didn’t get a lot of time with it—he was killed driving another of his cars in 1939.
Saddam acquired the Mercedes and all the other royal booty when he took power. For unexplained reasons, he is believed to have traded the 500K with the late King Hussein of Jordan for a Mercedes 770K tourwagen, which is, stylewise, a comparative lump of coal. Sometime after that, King Hussein reportedly returned the 500K to Saddam as a gift to keep friendship (and oil) flowing between Iraq and oil-hungry Jordan. The Mercedes was photographed in a subterranean garage in Baghdad in March intact but dusty. Where this prize jewel of the crown is now is anybody’s guess.
This excerpt from Car & Driver highlights not only the scale of Uday Hussein’s automotive obsession but also the fascinating story of another significant Mercedes – a 1935 500K once owned by King Ghazi of Iraq. Intriguingly, the narrative suggests a swap involving this very Mercedes 770K Tourenwagen with King Hussein of Jordan, further intertwining its history with Middle Eastern royalty and political dealings.
The journey of this Mercedes 1943 is a captivating puzzle. From its likely origins as a symbol of pre-war German engineering prowess to its possible ownership by Iraqi royalty and later, a figure like Uday Hussein, this vehicle has witnessed history unfold. The questions that remain are as compelling as the car itself. Where is this remarkable Mercedes 770K now? Is it undergoing restoration, being preserved as a relic of automotive and political history, or perhaps residing in a private collection, waiting to tell its story to a new generation of enthusiasts? The tale of this rescued Mercedes 1943 is just beginning to be told.
