1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A

The Mercedes-Benz 540K was a development of the 500K and shared the same independent suspension chassis. The 540K was one of the first models developed under Mercedes' new chief engineer, Max Sailer. Powering the 540K was a 5.4-liter supercharged straight-eight engine featuring the company's Roots-type supercharger system in which pressing the accelerator pedal to the flood would simultaneously engage the compress. it would also close off the alternative atmospheric intake to the carburetor. This system had been developed, tested, and proven on the Dr. Porsche-conceived S-Type cars.

Making its debut in October of 1936 at the Paris Salon, the 540K offered 115bhp in un-supercharged form, or 180bhp with the compressor engaged. The gearbox was a four-speed, but with a direct top gear rather than the overdrive ratio used on the earlier 500K. Braking was handled by servo-assisted hydraulic drums.

The Mercedes-Benz 540K was one of the genuine 100mph road cars available during the 1930s. In supercharged form (and at a cost of around 11mpg petrol consumption), the 540 could approach speeds of 110 mph. (85mph when the supercharger was disengaged).

In 1938, a revised 540K was introduced featuring an oval-section chassis tube instead of channel frame members. In keeping with the company's successful racing practice, the engine adopted sodium-cooled valves.

This example is a Cabriolet 'A' with two-door, 2+1 seater coachwork built by Mercedes' own Sindelfingen coachwork. The design was handled by Hermann Ahrens, design chief at Sindelfingen. It rides on wire wheels, twin side-mounted spares, exposed landau irons, twin horns and a center spotlight.

The order number for this car was 262498 and it was one of at least two cars in this series delivered to Mercedes-Benz of Paris at that time. The car was completed early in 1938 and transferred to Paris on March 20th of 1938. Though its very early history is not known, it was brought to the United States by an Army officer, Colonel William H. Kendall of Sarasota, Florida. Col. Kendall retained the car until 1970, when ownership passed to Paul Karassik. Mr. Karassik would keep the car for more than four decades. A short time after Mr. Karassik purchased the car, he treated it to a refurbishing with new paint in the deep burgundy tone which it still wears. The original leather was re-dyed and a new top was fitted.

Period features include a round faced Becker Radio, fabric radiator cover, and a fold away luggage rack.

There were just 97 examples of the 540K produced in 1936. 145 were built in 1937, 95 in 1938 and 69 in 1939. An additional three more cars were built up to July 1942. It is believed that around 83 examples were the Cabriolet A body style.

In 2013, the car was offered for sale at the Bonhams Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $1,312,500 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013