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1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet A

  • Coachwork by Sindelfingen
  • Chassis Number: 130941
  • Engine Number: 130941
  • Registration Number: EMH 303
This 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A wears coachwork by Sindelfingen with a set-back radiator shell, flowing front fenders, wire wheels, dual rear-mounted spare tires, and a low single-piece windshield. It is believed that thirty-three examples were this early-style Cabriolet A, and one of perhaps five surviving examples that are interim-production cars.

After leaving Sindelfingen, the car traveled to the UK and into the care of the Rose & Company, Ltd., of London, England. It had a right-hand-drive configuration and its original British-based owner was Mr. Cockburn, for whom the car was registered as EMH 303. In the early 1950s, it was sent to the United States, and as early as 1954 it was in the custodianship of John B. Davidson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr. Davidson had the car painted gold with black features and with an unusual and distinctive 'sweep panel' design through the hood. Mr. Davidson offered the car for sale in 1959, with an unknown history for the next two decades, resuming in the late 1970s when it was in the care of Earl Blakely, who sold it in 1978 to Dr. Terry Bennett of New Hampshire. A decade later, the car was sold to the Swedish property tycoon Hans Thulin. When the Thulin collection was dispersed in 1991, the 540 K returned stateside, and soon thereafter was refinished to its present appearance and joined the present collection, where it has now remained for three decades.

The car's current livery is black with red wire wheels wrapped with blackwall tires, and red leather upholstery.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022

2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $2,000,000-USD $2,500,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,875,000

1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz 540K

(Data based on Model Year 1936 sales)
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130945
Sold for USD$1,600,000
  2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130941
Sold for USD$1,875,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130921
Sold for USD$698,500
  2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Cabriolet by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130913
Sold for USD$1,540,000
  2014 RM Auctions at Monterey
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster
Chassis#: 130949
Sold for USD$11,770,000
  2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130945
Sold for USD$3,002,390
  2012 RM Auctions at Monaco
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130945
Sold for USD$2,970,000
  2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Coupe by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130944
Sold for USD$3,080,000
  2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet
Chassis#: 130913
Sold for USD$913,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet
Chassis#: 130945
Sold for USD$2,035,000
  2008 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 MERCEDES 540 K REPLICA
Chassis#: 1185135
Sold for USD$20,000
  2007 Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions - November 18, 2007
 
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Replica Convertible
Sold for USD$11,880
  2007 Toronto International Spring Classic Car Auction
 
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet
Chassis#: 130913
Sold for USD$1,028,500
  2007 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sindelfigen
Sold for USD$836,000
  2006 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet C
Chassis#: 169387
Sold for USD$1,178,591
  2006 Coys Auction - Legende et Passion
 

Mercedes-Benz 540Ks That Failed To Sell At Auction

1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet1309452014 Rick Cole Auctions : Monterey$3,246,100  
1936 MERCEDES BENZ 540 K REPLICA 2009 Silver Auction Salt Lake City$19,000  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Cabriolet1309452004 The Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction$1,100,000$1,400,000$1,800,000

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1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K

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