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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
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 540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 130941 Sold for USD$1,875,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 130921 Sold for USD$698,500 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
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 540 K Special Roadster Chassis#: 130949 Sold for USD$11,770,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction | |
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 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 130945 Sold for USD$2,970,000 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | |
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 Special Cabriolet Chassis#: 130913 Sold for USD$913,000 2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey | |
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet Chassis#: 130945 Sold for USD$2,035,000 2008 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | |
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 Sindelfigen Sold for USD$836,000 2006 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction | |
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.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet | 130945 | 2014 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 Cabriolet | 130945 | 2004 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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