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Mercedes-Benz built 419 chassis of the 540 Ks and most wore coachwork designed by Sindelfingen, the official karosserie of Daimler-Benz. It came equipped with an overhead valve, eight-cylinder engine that displaced 5,401cc, and with the help of a Roots-Type supercharger, it offered 180 horsepower at 3,400 RPM (with the blower engaged). The engine was paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes to provide stopping power.
Styling features of this Mercedes-Benz included its radiator set back behind the front axle. It has flowing fenders, a sloping rear deck, and a rear-set cockpit.
Dr. William Walter Birge collected his new 540 K from the factory on July 24th of 1937 and returned with it to his home in Paris. The car remained with Dr. Birge for many years, presumably until his passing in 1952. It was around that time that the Mercedes-Benz was purchased by an American collector, and was exported to Baltimore. It is believed that the car remained on the East Coast until the late 1970s. In 1980, the car was imported to Germany and into the care of Dr. Ernst Beeh of Stuttgart who kept it for 21 years. During that time, it was used in European events and rallies including the Monte Carlo, Tour des Alpes, and Bertha-Benz. Dr. Beeh drove the Mercedes-Benz 60,000 km.
Near the end of Dr. Beeh's ownership, he commissioned Rolf Wagner to do a full, body-off restoration that was carried out between 1997 and 1999. Nearly $400,000 was spent on the restoration and upon completion, it wore cream paintwork, just as it had when it originally left the factory.
The 540 K returned to the United States in 2001 via dealer and enthusiast Axel Schuette. The following year, it joined the Ray Scherr collection of Southern California. In 2007, entrusted the Mercedes-Benz specialist Scott Grundfor of Arroyo Grande, California, to prepare the 540 K for competition at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Upon completion, the car wore a black exterior with black leather hides. At the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours, the car was awarded Third in Class and the Road & Track Trophy.
In 2010, the car was sold to Tony Vincent and has been kept in top form and was exhibited at numerous shows around Southern California in the early 2010s, beginning with Best of Show accolades at the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022
Styling features of this Mercedes-Benz included its radiator set back behind the front axle. It has flowing fenders, a sloping rear deck, and a rear-set cockpit.
Dr. William Walter Birge collected his new 540 K from the factory on July 24th of 1937 and returned with it to his home in Paris. The car remained with Dr. Birge for many years, presumably until his passing in 1952. It was around that time that the Mercedes-Benz was purchased by an American collector, and was exported to Baltimore. It is believed that the car remained on the East Coast until the late 1970s. In 1980, the car was imported to Germany and into the care of Dr. Ernst Beeh of Stuttgart who kept it for 21 years. During that time, it was used in European events and rallies including the Monte Carlo, Tour des Alpes, and Bertha-Benz. Dr. Beeh drove the Mercedes-Benz 60,000 km.
Near the end of Dr. Beeh's ownership, he commissioned Rolf Wagner to do a full, body-off restoration that was carried out between 1997 and 1999. Nearly $400,000 was spent on the restoration and upon completion, it wore cream paintwork, just as it had when it originally left the factory.
The 540 K returned to the United States in 2001 via dealer and enthusiast Axel Schuette. The following year, it joined the Ray Scherr collection of Southern California. In 2007, entrusted the Mercedes-Benz specialist Scott Grundfor of Arroyo Grande, California, to prepare the 540 K for competition at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Upon completion, the car wore a black exterior with black leather hides. At the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours, the car was awarded Third in Class and the Road & Track Trophy.
In 2010, the car was sold to Tony Vincent and has been kept in top form and was exhibited at numerous shows around Southern California in the early 2010s, beginning with Best of Show accolades at the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022
Factory records indicate that some 419 examples of the 540K were produced between 1936 and 1939. Only 32 of this particular Sports Cabriolet A version were produced, and only 12 are known to survive. This example's bodywork left the Sindelfingen factory on April 9th of 1937. On the same day that the body was completed, it was transported to the assembly area at Unterturkheim where it was joined to the chassis. Some of the features of this car are inherent to the 540K Special Roadster, including the radiator mounted behind the front axle, extremely long fenders and the twin spare wheels mounted at the rear. These two body styles are the most sought-after of all the factory coachwork. They were among the ultimate cars that money could buy in the late 1930s. This car reigns as the fastest production road car of its era and the last supercharged model the company built until the modern era.
2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,750,000-USD $2,000,000
Sale Price :
USD $3,085,000
2010 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $154,084-USD $154,084
Sale Price :
USD $2,145,000
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz 540K
(Data based on Model Year 1937 sales)
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPECIAL ROADSTER Chassis#: 154080 Sold for USD$2,420,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 169367 Sold for USD$775,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540 K SPORT CABRIOLET A Chassis#: 154084 Sold for USD$3,085,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 154075 Sold for USD$9,905,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Coupe by Hebmüller Chassis#: 154143 Sold for USD$995,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 154078 Sold for USD$2,539,413 2019 RM Sothebys : Essen | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sports Roadster Coachwork by Mayfair Chassis#: 154080 Sold for USD$3,277,500 2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B Chassis#: 169350 Sold for USD$577,500 2018 Mecum : Monterey | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 154146 Sold for USD$2,585,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet C Chassis#: 154062 Sold for USD$1,072,500 2016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K CABRIOLET A Coachwork by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 154083 Sold for USD$2,970,000 2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 130894 Sold for USD$9,900,000 2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sports Saloon Chassis#: 169341 Sold for USD$797,307 2013 Bonhams - The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster Model Sold for USD$34,500 2012 RM - Milhous Collection, Fla | |
1937 Mercedes 540 K cabriolet B 1937 Sold for USD$646,491 2012 Artcurial Motorcars at Rétromobile | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet 'C' Chassis#: 236583 Sold for USD$667,000 2012 Bonhams - The Scottsdale Sale, Az | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A - Coachwork by Sindelfingen Sold for USD$1,350,079 2011 Coys - A217 True Greats | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen Chassis#: 154140 Sold for USD$9,680,000 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A by Factory Sindelfingen Chassis#: 154081 Sold for USD$1,996,988 2011 RM Auctions - Villa d'Este | |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet C Chassis#: 169312 Sold for USD$612,630 2011 Bonhams - Automobilia, Motos de collection et Automobiles d'exception au Grand Palais |
Mercedes-Benz 540Ks That Failed To Sell At Auction
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster | 154080 | 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | $2,600,000 | $3,500,000 | $4,500,000 |
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster | 154080 | 2021 Mecum : Monterey | |||
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster | 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | ||||
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster | 2020 Mecum : Indy | ||||
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B | 169367 | 2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $650,000 | $750,000 | |
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPORT CABRIOLET A | 154146 | 2016 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction | |||
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen | 154146 | 2015 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona | $3,100,000 | $3,400,000 | $4,000,000 |
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1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K
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