History: W140 from TRASCO BREMEN

As the 1990s progressed, the heady days were over and the recession hit ultra-luxury cars and their tuners. In the new 10 years, TRASCO BREMEN, which started in 1983, has emerged as the most influential 140 body manufacturer. This article aims to introduce the comprehensive history of TRASCO BREMEN and 140.

In 1983, TRASCO Export GmbH was founded in Bremen by Johann.P.Ackermann. In the beginning, there were only 5 employees. In 1985, the production of the stretched and armored limousines based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (126) started. The representative product named the “1000 SEL” , is available in a shorter 12″ extra length and a longer 44″ extra length. Sold primarily to royalty in the Middle East and upper classes in Japan and Hong Kong, these cars can be very exaggerated in appearance or kept plain.

TRASCO is also very experienced in the field of armored vehicles. By 1985, the sonderschutz produced by Mercedes-Benz was inadequate, and TRASCO took the opportunity to develop and sell safer vehicles. Since 1988, the company has manufactured armored cars for Volvo and Audi.

August 16, 1985, when the armored Mercedes 380 SEL of the German ambassador in Beirut was shot at by Christian militias: but one penetrated the vulnerable roof pillar. The projectile hit the Lebanese driver of the embassy car, Suheir Daud. Ambassador Antonius Eitel filed a lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz “on behalf of the survivors” after the attack, which took two years and resulted in the Stuttgart company paying Daud’s widow a severance package.

Even with new OE corporations, TRASCO’s core business still revolves around the S-Class. After the new S-Class was launched in Geneva in March 1991, TRASCO responded immediately: they released a number of products based on the 140 in June 1991, including armored sedans and stretched limousines.

              Model applicability    Price (01.06.1991)
Limousine 15″ (380 mm)     300 SEL – 600 SEL     DM 245.000
Limousine 18″ (450 mm)     300 SEL – 600 SEL     DM 270.000

Although two lengths, 15 ” and 18″ were added to the initial price list, the 18 “disappeared later. TRASCO uses the most classic lengthening method on the 140: adding a short or long door between the front and rear doors. This door cannot be opened from the outside and is not designed to be functional, it is just a structure. Typical interior amenities include folding tables, wine coolers, and televisions with VCRs.

              Model applicability    Price (01.06.1991)
Limousine 42″ (1070 mm)      300 SEL – 600 SEL     DM 295.000

For the longest Limousine 42″, a typical setup includes an extra row of seats and moving the TV and wine cabinet to one side. New limousines use same exterior components to the regular 140 sedan on the outside, just subtly lengthened without sending any weight to presence, the 1000 SEL moniker has also been dropped.

For armored vehicles, according to DIN 52290, protection is defined as 5 levels, TRASCO provides products that comply with 3 of them. They are: Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4/4+.

              Model applicability    Price (01.06.1991)
Level 2               300 SEL – 600 SEL     DM 250.000
Level 2 + 15″           300 SEL – 600 SEL     DM 450.000
Level 3              300 SEL – 600 SEL   Level 2 + DM 65.000
Level 3 + 12″            300 SEL – 600 SEL   Level 2 + DM 73.000
Level 4/4+           300 SEL – 600 SEL     DM 420.000

TRASCO features “seamless” protection of the passenger compartment. The developed the patented armored glass installation technology (TRASCO Patent No. DE 3639781 C1). The armoring materials use comply with the regulations DIN 52290, Part 2, “Attack-resistant glazing”, which are also applied to the opaque material and are tested by the “Staatliche Beschußamt Ulm” in accordance with DIN 52290.

Armor Scope

Equipment

1.Fire extinguishing system. This fire fighting system covers the areas of wheel boxes, underbody and engine compartment.

2.Rad-emergency system. Security tapes or Rodgard emergency running systems are used. Safety strips made of metal prevent the tires from jumping from the rims and then allow a onward journey up to 5 km. The Rodgard emergency running system operates with plastic rings on the rims and allows continuing up to 50 km.

3.Fuel tank “Explosion”. The material of this tank is made of polymer foam and prevents the explosion of the fuel when shoting.

4.Restart system. This remote start device operates the central lock and starts the vehicle engine from a distance of up to 100 meters. Bombs with vibrations or starting lovers can be exploded from a safe distance.

5.Polycarbonate glass system. A composite material that prevents the splintering and penetration of glass fragments into the passenger compartment. The ballistic properties are identical to the trasco tank glass system. The use of this material is not recommended in hot climate zones, since at high temperatures there may be solutions to the composite or blackbeat.

6.Black light. The system is based on an invisible, stroboscopic light source, which can only be perceived by a night vision glass. This enables a location of the vehicle from 30 km (helicopter).

7.Bomb comamage. This device sprints each bomb installed on the vehicle based on a magnetder (98% of all bombs).

8.Further special equipment on request

Before February 1992, Mercedes-Benz had not launched the factory Sonderschutz, TRASCO’s armored vehicles were given the opportunity. Although Mercedes-Benz began delivering Sonderschutz in the summer of 1992, but demand exceeded supply, some users who could not wait turned to TRASCO, which made TRASCO’s armored sedans competitive in the early days. The delivery time for non-armored vehicles is 3 months, and the delivery time for armored vehicles is 4-6 months.

Since July 1993, TRASCO’s armored 140 got TüV certifiecations, the sonderschutz model now has certified name TSF 140. Technical data now can be read: for V12 model, curb weight 3100 kg, maximum weight 3600 kg, of which the front axle 1800 kg, the rear axle 1800 kg. Max speed 180 km/h, the remaining specifications are the same as the factory.

Since December 1993, armored glass and body steel panels have been certified. For the B6 TSF 140, the armor capsule was made of steel plates with a thickness of 6.7 mm and Polycarbonate glass with a total thickness of 38.8 mm. The windows include 4 layers of 8 mm thick float glasses and connectors, and 2.5 mm thick Polycarbonate. This glass is manufactured by ISOCLIMA.

At this time, the global demand for conventional civilian limousine has dropped significantly compared to the 1980s. TRASCO entered the Asian market through an agency in Hong Kong, selling civilian stretched limousines there. Although officially the name 1000 SEL is a thing of the past, Asian agency Kingsway Cars Ltd. collectively refers to TRASCO and Duchatelet products as DYNASTY 1000 SEL. These cars emphasized the same high-quality stretched and interior facilities as always, but remained low-key on the outside.

Entering the 1990s, just as 126 exited, the world entered a new stage. The United States, Europe and Japan have all experienced economic recession, which has made it difficult for ultra-luxury manufacturers such as TRASCO. German-made stretched sedans have become a very luxurious option. At this time, there was another opportunity: in 1981, the most luxurious sedan in Mercedes history, the 600, was discontinued. 10 years later, in 1991, the youngest 600 was already 10 years old.

These cars from the 1960s were obviously mechanically outdated and did not conform to the new trends in styling. They needed a successor, but Mercedes-Benz doesn’t provide it. Since 1993, Mercedes-Benz’s factory Sonderschutz has been in sufficient supply, and its protective capabilities and overall quality are better than TRASCO. But TRASCO’s armored limousine has received interest from authorities in many countries.

In addition to standard models, TRASCO also offers products based on special requests. In 1994, TRASCO produced two stretched armored limousine for the Chinese government. They used a body form similar to that of the Mercedes-Benz 600, instead of being streched from the middle of the two doors. The two cars were customized by the Chinese government in the shape of previous domestic state limousine Hongqi.

However, many head of states wanted an armored limousine longer than 20″. TRASCO’s core R&D and sales shift from exotic stretch sedans to heads of state cars resulted in the introduction of the full length TSF 140-42 in 1994.

Later, the protection level was redefined based on CEN (Europanorm) and launched a new series of products including armored coupe.

Limousine

              Model applicability    Price (27.03.1995)
Limousine 20″           S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 387.000 – 430.000
Limousine 20″D          S 420 L – S 600 L    DM 412.000 – 455.000
Limousine 42″           S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 437.000 – 480.000

Medium Level Schutzausrüstung B3/B4

              Model applicability    Price (27.03.1995)
B3 sedan            S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 392.000 – 435.000
B3 limousine 20″          S 420 L – S 600 L    DM 657.000 – 700.000
B3 limousine 42″          S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 712.000 – 755.000
B4 sedan            S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 457.000 – 500.000
B4 limousine 20″          S 420 L – S 600 L    DM 722.000 – 765.000
B4 limousine 42″          S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 777.000 – 820.000

High Level Schutzausrüstung B6

              Model applicability    Price (27.03.1995)
B6 sedan            S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 562.000 – 605.000
B6 coupe            S 420 L – S 600 L    DM 885.000
B6 limousine 20″          S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 832.000 – 875.000
B6 limousine 42″          S 420 L – S 600 L   DM 937.000 – 980.000

As early as 1989, TRASCO wanted to expand and build new buildings. Johann Ackermann acquired an area of ​​Mobil in Hüttenstrasse, but the project was delayed. In 1996, TRASCO filed for bankruptcy. Sachsenring AG in Zwickau takes over TRASCO and the new managing director Dirk Heimbrock runs the company quite successfully. Just one year after bankruptcy, the company became profitable with a new business concept.

At North Korea’s request, Mercedes began working with Duchatelet in early 1994 to develop the Pullman, the 1000 mm-stretched armored limousine is an analogue of TRASCO’s TSF 140-42. But it was not until September 1995 that the Pullman was released at IAA 95, and Mercedes and Duchatelet was unable to deliver new orders before 1996, TRASCO once again had an advantage.

TRASCO also started presence in North America due to global impact from Mercedes-Benz factory Sonderschutz – Mercedes does not sell Sonderschutz there.

Compared with the early 1990s, the new TRASCO’s product line has become quite diversified, instead of relying heavily on the S-Class. Especially with the rise of SUVs, Nissan and Jeep have joined the TRASCO camp. The regular TSF 140 sedan has almost disappeared at this time, but the 20″ and 42″ limouine are still TRASCO’s top products. In 1998, the production of the bodies for the TRASCO limousines transferred to Sachsenring AG.

Even after the civilian 140 was discontinued in 1998, the competition between TRASCO and Mercedes continued. Mercedes continued production of the Guard to 2000, TRASCO even longer, and they also offered restorations of used vehicles.

TRASCO does not have any form of cooperation with Mercedes, so regarding the origin of the base vehicles, TRASCO purchased it on its own from dealers across Germany, and accordingly, MB has no records. The options on these cars are often not the top ones, and they often need to be further processed by TRASCO.

Early TRASCO products did not have manufacturer attributes. After 1993, a nameplate starting with W09 replaced the MB factory nameplate on the raditior frame, but the original VIN was still retained under the passenger seat.

All history are based on limited information, please email me if you have doubts about the veracity of this article. If you want to quote the content of this article, please contact me in advance, please do not use my text for any commercial purposes.