Former Mercedes-Benz works rally driver Eugen Böhringer died last month.
Born on 22 January 1922 in Stuttgart, Böhringer was a chef and hotelier by trade.
But a bet with friends led him to enter his first local and regional competitions in his own Mercedes-Benz 219 (W05) in the 1950s.
An early achievement came in the form of second place in the Stuttgart Solitude Rally of 1958, a competition he would win in ’59 and ’60.
Böhringer’s victory put him on the radar of Mercedes, which signed him as a works driver.
The large heavy saloons of the day suited Böhringer’s style and he took victories in the 1962 Acropolis Rally and the Liège-Sofia-Liège driving a 220SE (W111).
He won the Greek title again the following year, in a 300SE (W112) along with the Germany Rally and Argentina’s Touring Car Grand Prix (above).
He also mastered the 230SL Pagoda in ’63, powering it to top of the podium on the gruelling long-distance Spa-Sofia-Liège Rally, the Poland Rally and the Acropolis Rally.