1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Coupe

This year's RM Auctions event in Monterey, California would produce two Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezials for bidding pleasure. One of them would be a Spezial Roadster. The other would be a Spezial Coupe. Bidding around the Spezial Roadster would set the tone and the goal for the coupe to follow. The roadster would end up garnering $4,620,000. This was an incredible amount but it made it obvious the coupe also had a chance of commanding an amount right up around there if the bidders thought it to be worth it. The action would seem to say that it was, but
a little more investigation into the car would prove that it certainly was worthy of such attention.

While Mercedes-Benz would focus on the chassis, Sindelfingen would be singled-out to design and build the coachwork for the 540Ks. With 180 hp from a supercharged 5.4-liter inline eight-cylinder engine it was obvious the car was something of a performer. Sindelfingen recognized this and had developed some elegant body-styling that was also quite aggressive at the same time. The long, wedged-shaped nose, sweeping tail and beautifully contoured fenders certainly gave the car an ample touch of luxury and performance at the same time. However, most would end up swinging a little more heavy on the side of performance and Sindelfingen would end up producing far more cabriolets than coupes.

In fact, only about seven 540K would end up being produced with coupe bodies. Chassis 130944; therefore, was just one of seven, making the car already exceedingly rare. One other important historical note about this car that would only add to its value would be the fact that it would be this car that Mercedes-Benz would choose for its display at the 1935 Paris Salon.

After starting out its life as the center of attention showing German aerodynamic and machine artistry, the car would be delivered to Jean-Claude Solvay. Jean-Claude Solvay was well known from the Belgian chemical company.

The car would remain the property of Solvay for a number of years. The car's history would become a little vague until it would become part of Connie Bouchard's collection during the 1960s. Bouchard would have the car go through restorative work before it would end up being to John Mozart.

Not too long after Mozart came to own the car the Imperial Palace Collection would come calling on the car for its collection. If the Imperial Palace Collection wasn't a sign of the car's significance then the fact the Lyon Family would come to acquire the car certainly would help make the case.

The Lyon Family came to own the car during the late 1990s and has remained as part of their collection in the climate-controlled storage. Leading up to the auction in August the car had been inspected. The car and engine retained matching numbers and the car retained a good deal of its original components.

The 540K, whether a cabriolet or a coupe, was certainly something special and a testament to Sindelfingen's workmanship and design. This car, with its rich, dark red finish, full of rich history and prominent owners, would prove to be another favorite with the bidders. This beautifully designed, elegant coupe would end up selling for $3,080,000.

Sources:
'Lot No. 236: 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Coupe', (http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r244&Currency=USD). RM Auction. http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r244&Currency=USD. Retrieved 29 August 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Mercedes-Benz 540K', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 August 2011, 21:21 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercedes-Benz_540K&oldid=446720478 accessed 29 August 2011

By Jeremy McMullen