1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Cabriolet A

Between 1936 and 1940, Mercedes-Benz produced a total of 419 540Ks - named for the powerful 5.4-liter straight-eight engine. A number of standard bodies were offered by the marque's Sindelfingen factory, including various Cabriolets and a Special Roadster - but this particular 540K bears a Special Cabriolet A commissioned by a client in Paris and combining the classic line of a cabriolet with the raked V windshield of the roadster, lengthening its look and emphasizing the powerful thrust of the front fenders. There is just one other Special Cabriolet A, and it is on a 500K. The car has had several well-known owners, including American operatic tenor James Melton, Tom Barrett and General William Lyon. Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler purchased it in the early 1970s, had it restored by Richard Martin, and showed it at the 1973 Concours. At the time it was a lively two-tone green. Its livery changed to bright red during a later restoration. It returned to the Pebble Beach Concours in 2021 in the care of Don Williams of the Blackhawk Collection.

The chassis and engine for this Mercedes-Benz was delivered under kommission number 311463 to a client in Paris on April 29th of 1939. It was given Cabriolet A bodywork by the factory with special instructions that included to give it a raked vee'd windshield, a feature found on the Spezial Roadsters of the period. Just one other similar example of a Spezial Cabriolet, produced on a 500 K chassis, is known to exist. It was given fitted luggage and a five-speed transmission.

Early in its existence, it was sent to the United States with its earliest known post-war owner being American operatic tenor James Melton. The car remained with him until shortly before his passing in 1961, being one of the last cars to leave his stable. After about a decade it was purchased by Otis Chandler. The 540 K was restored for Chandler by Richard Martin in time for the 1973 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It was finished in two-tone green livery and earned top honors in its class and went on to win the Best of Show award.

The car was later purchased from Mr. Chandler by Tom Barrett for his client, Axel Wars. When the Wars collection was dispersed in the early 1980s, the Spezial Cabriolet A was purchased by General William Lyon where it remained for nearly a decade.

In the early 1990s, the car was restored again by Mike Fennel of Saugas, California where it was given its present livery of bright scarlet, with tan leather upholstery and a tan cloth top. It then joined the present owner's collection, where it has remained for two decades.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2016