M23
Inline-4- 23 1.3 L · 1,308 cc
26 PS
19 kW · 25 hp at 3,400 rpm
Mercedes-Benz Medium Sedan · Typ 130
W23
Rear-engined experiment for the people — the Typ 130 H.
- Production
- 1934–1936
- Built
- 4,298
- Body
- Sedan
- Chassis
- W23
Rear-engined, modestly priced and deliberately unconventional — the Typ 130 was Mercedes-Benz's Heckmotor experiment, a people's car proposal that placed the engine behind the cabin long before the layout became fashionable.
The Typ 130's rear-mounted four-cylinder and compact packaging were a radical departure from Mercedes-Benz's front-engined norm, aimed at lower purchase and running costs for a broader audience. Independent suspension and a lightweight structure supported the project's economy-car ambitions, even as the company continued building larger, more conventional models for its established clientele.
Between 1934 and 1936, 4,298 examples were built — a respectable total for an experimental layout, though the Heckmotor concept would not define Mercedes-Benz's future direction. The Typ 130 remains a fascinating sidestep in the company's history, a volume-built rear-engined Mercedes decades before such ideas resurfaced elsewhere in the industry.
Every model.
1 distinct series across 1934–1936 — each identified by its chassis and engine numbers from period factory data.
| Model | Model years | Chassis | Engine | Transmission | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 130 | 1934–1936 | 23 | 23 | 4,298 |
* The published production figure covers every series of that model; the source does not break it down further.
Engines.
The M23 as fitted to the W23.