Mercedes W31

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 12:54 pm

An interesting point got raised by Grendel in the Worth a Watch thread concerning the vehicle that plays a prominent role in The Captain, a film on Prime. A little research shows it to be a Mercedes W31 type but there were only around 57 built and mainly used by high-rank officers and the like. The cars that remain today are worth fortunes and I cannot find where the car used in the film comes from. Here s a trailer that shows the car. The trailer shows the car at 1:36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LANyo2O40lM Does anyone know if it is a repro or real?

DWD

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 4:44 pm

Had a look to see what you were talking about, the page on Wikipedia states that "at least three are known to exist in original form", one of which is in Hollywood. It was used in "Hogan's Heroes" and "other films mainly war movies".

It also mentions a fourth in France and three offered for £9m in 2009.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 5:22 pm

In original form seems a bit ambiguous. For instance in the wiki article it says that they were originally painted gloss grey and black but were later given a matte or camouflage finish so it could be argued that none or practically none have remained original.
A bit anorakish but part of me did wonder why a luftwaffe Captain was driving round in such a car normally used by higher ranking officers although I suppose it helped give him a sort of authority to commit his crimes.

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 6:50 pm

Hey I've just remembered after watching the trailer is this the film where there is a really bad scene where they race the prisoners in the camp at night?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 8:35 pm

I don't remember that but they do execute prisoners with a FlaK gun.

DWD

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Jun 17, 2022 8:43 pm

The film was made in Germany and I doubt they would have got hold of a real W31 as a prop. It might be a Merecdes G63 6 wheeler with the body replaced with a fibreglass mock up?

DWD

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:56 am

Couldn't sleep so had a look for you, Walter. This is what you're querying:

: the_captain_by_robert_schwentke_with_max_hubacher_c_filmgalerie_451_i.jpg (115.86 KiB) Viewed 704 times

Here's a real one:

: mercedes-540-g4-hitler-2579991.jpg (164.62 KiB) Viewed 704 times

The radiator is wrong as is the split screen, turns out it's a Jeep built for the film.

Here's the link I found.

: media.media.2042e3fa-3bb5-4f5e-bff7-8956328caf17.original1024.jpg (141.7 KiB) Viewed 704 times

: media.media.fab386f0-d79c-43a2-b551-c2e16310ba2e.original1024.jpg (89.1 KiB) Viewed 704 times

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:40 am

Well done Arco, reg no WL -28 is the vehicle used. I could not find it. I will have another look now

DWD