1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet Tourer A

The Mercedes-Benz 500K caused a sensation at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show. Together with its successor, the 540K, the magnificent Mercedes-Benz 500K was arguably the most important production model sold by the Stuttgart firm during the 1930s. Powered by a 5018cc supercharged straight-eight engine with a Roots-type supercharger, it was the supercar of its day. Although the 500K chassis was bodied by all of the best coachbuilders, the companies own Sindelfingen coachwork left little room for improvement.

This example, a 500K Cabriolet A, is the work of Hermann Ahrens, chief designer at Mercedes-Benz. Its body is described by Mercedes-Benz as an Offener Tourenwagen body, which - in literal translation - means a four-passenger open tourer. It has a sporty appearance with long fenders and a low-slung beltline under its fabric top. By the time this body style was introduced, open cars were steadily declining and it is estimated that around 16 examples of the Offener Tourenwagen were produced on the 500 K chassis.


This example was delivered by the Daimler-Benz branch in Munich on 19 November 1935, carrying engine number 123724 and Sindelfingen body number 814102. Its early history is not known but in 1951 it was discovered in Germany by Dr. Ralph W.E. Cox Jr. He was able to purchase the car from its owner, a Mr. Unholzer, and driven to Paris, then to the port at Le Havre, from which it was shipped to New York and eventually home to New Jersey. Years later, after Dr. Cox opened the Frontier Village Museum at the Cape May, New Jersey airport, the 500 K was exhibited for many years. It was later transferred to the Museum of Automobiles at Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas, where it remained on exhibit until finally being sold by Dr. Cox's heirs in early 2014 to the current caretaker.

Dr. Cox's son treated this car to a (mostly cosmetic) restoration in the early 1990s. The car remains in very original order. Since then, a comprehensive fresh restoration was undertaken and finished in this color scheme of medium oak green with a tan leather interior and corresponding green canvas top. It retains several distinguishing features, including Bosch headlamps, fog light, and dual horns, and a Munich-built Hopako touring trunk, which has been with the car since it was found in 1951 and perhaps earlier, and contains a two-piece set of fitted luggage.

The engine appears to be original with the original engine number tag and stamping, and the original body is still visible stamped into the body near a front frame rail.

In 2016, this car was put on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it won a Class award. It was also displayed at that year's Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance, where it was the poster car, Best in Class, and Best of Show.