For the Head of State
It was said that Germany’s Emperor Wilhelm II embraced and promoted the automobile early on, a fact attributed to his own fleet of vehicles, for which he had the first car procured as early as 1903.
It is said to have happened on more than one occasion that His Majesty simply ignored a carriage that had been provided for him and instead had himself driven in a motorized vehicle.
Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, the prevailing view was that no other head of state devoted himself as intensely and extensively to the automobile as the German Emperor—in 1913, he was described in the press as “the Supreme Protector of the German Motor Industry.” Further praise for the state’s highest representative can be found in the assertion that he “…protected the German automotive industry in critical times from the danger of being suppressed by overly strict legislation…”. These words also pleased the gentlemen on the board of the ‘Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft,’ for the factory, with its Mercedes models, belonged to the illustrious circle that was included in the Emperor’s fleet. With the Type 38/70 PS, the Swabian factory had a model in its portfolio that was a favorite among nobles, monarchs, and princes. This Mercedes was also selected for Wilhelm II’s fleet. The imperial car carried two spare tires on the roof, which was both advisable and common at the time due to the poor condition of the roads. It was also mandatory in high-end automotive circles that the passenger compartment could be converted into an open-top version using a fabric convertible top.
