1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K La Baule Torpedo Transformable

This 1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K 'La Baule' Torpedo Transformable wears coachwork by Jacques Saoutchik. Saoutchik had trained as a carpenter, became a master of complex mechanisms, and would patent designs for a larger convertible top that would disappear completely within a car's bodywork.

In 1928, Saoutchik introduced the 'La Baule' Torpedo Transformable which incorporated his patented disappearing top. It was named for the northwest Atlantic seaside town where important concours were held. The disappearing top design of the 'La Baule' used a three-position top that could be set fully open, fully closed, or with only the driver's compartment for formal use.

The 'La Baule' design was applied to a variety of chassis, but perhaps most successfully to Mercedes-Benz, perfectly complimenting its mighty single-overhead-camshaft, 6.3-liter, six-cylinder engine.

This particular example, kommission no. 40926, was delivered on August 23rd of 1928 to Carrosserie Saoutchik to receive its 'La Baule' coachwork. Its original owner is not known, but it is believed to have been delivered to a buyer in the United States, as its earliest known history is from 1943 when it made an appearance in the film, Above Suspicion, as part of the Pacific Auto Rentals fleet. For approximately four decades, Pacific Auto Rentals supplied unusual automobiles to Hollywood film studios, and at one point, owned two 630 Ks in this style.

The 630K was later acquired from the Pacific Auto Rentals fleet by M.L. 'Bud' Cohn of Southern California. The car was featured in an article Mr. Cohn penned on his collection in the July-August 1964 issue of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America Star. Mr. Cohn notably stated that the original owner was the 'French Ambassador,' implying it would have been Paul Claudel who was the Ambassador to the United States from 1926 to 1933.

In the early 1970s, Mr. Cohn sold the 'La Baule' to the Craven Foundation of Ontario. When the Craven Foundation was dispersed in the early 1980s, the Mercedes was sold to the Blackhawk Collection of Danville, California. Around this time, it was restored to its present appearance featuring a two-tone blue livery, contrasted to an interior finished in the Saoutchik tradition with a combination of high-quality leather and multi-tone embroidered fabric.

After the restoration was complete, the car was displayed in the Blackhawk Museum for many years before joining its present owner in 2016.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2021