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1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Roadster Mayfair

This 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster has chassis number 154080 and is bodied by the Mayfair Carriage Company. From 1936 through 1940 a total of 419 540K chassis were built A total of eleven standard body styles were created by the factory at Sindelfingen for the 540K. Less than ten carried custom coachwork by the U.K. coachbuilder, Mayfair. They work mostly centered around small volume production for companies such as Alvis and Lagonda.

This sporty vehicle has a folding windshield, skirted rear fenders, and extensive use of louvers. It is fitted with an eight-cylinder engine with a driver-activated and gear-driven Rootes type supercharger with twin updraft pressurized carburetors. The result is 180 horsepower which is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the third and a dog clutch on the fourth gear. Four-wheel servo-assisted hydraulic drum brakes provide the stopping power.

It was shipped from the factory on October 7th of 1936 to the factory store in Paris, France. Paris was an unusual place for a right-hand drive chassis, especially one that would later be fitted with an English body. Some theory's for this unusual situation was that it may have been ordered by a British individual living in Paris who took possession of the chassis then had it sent to the UK for completion. In any case, the early history of the vehicle has been lost to time and the mystery of its early travel to Paris adds to the allure of the vehicle.

The car was brought to North America by a Canadian serviceman. This part of the vehicle's history is also unknown. But by the late 1950s, the car was still in Canada. It was involved in a garage fire but received very little damage. In the early 1960s, it was purchased by publisher and collector Richard C. Mertz who had the car brought to America and commissioned a restoration.

In 1984, the restoration was in the process, and Mr. Mertz passed away. The ownership passed to his son, Stephen Mertz, of Royal Oak, Mi.

In 1995 the car was nearing completion but some of the work was over two decades old. The car was sold and purchased by Ralph Englestad of Las Vegas, Nevada. Under his care, the restoration was completed, with the work done the vehicle amounting to a second restoration. The color was changed from black over silver to red. Mr. Englestad passed away in 2002 and the car entered the collection of a well-known California enthusiast.

This 540K Special Roadster was brought to the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $2,500,000 - $3,000,000. It was one of the highlights of the show and one of the high sales of the day, as the lot was sold for $2,530,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007

2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ

Sale Price :
USD $2,420,000

2023 Mecum : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $3,500,000-USD $4,500,000 
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $2,600,000

2021 Mecum : Monterey

Lot was not sold

2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $3,500,000-USD $4,500,000 
Sale Price :
USD $3,277,500

2007 Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $2,500,000-USD $3,000,000 
Sale Price :
USD $2,530,000

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz 540K

(Data based on Model Year 1937 sales)
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPECIAL ROADSTER
Chassis#: 154080
Sold for USD$2,420,000
  2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 169367
Sold for USD$775,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540 K SPORT CABRIOLET A
Chassis#: 154084
Sold for USD$3,085,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 154075
Sold for USD$9,905,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Coupe by Hebmüller
Chassis#: 154143
Sold for USD$995,000
  2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
 
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 154078
Sold for USD$2,539,413
  2019 RM Sothebys : Essen
 
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sports Roadster Coachwork by Mayfair
Chassis#: 154080
Sold for USD$3,277,500
  2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B
Chassis#: 169350
Sold for USD$577,500
  2018 Mecum : Monterey
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 154146
Sold for USD$2,585,000
  2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet C
Chassis#: 154062
Sold for USD$1,072,500
  2016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K CABRIOLET A Coachwork by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 154083
Sold for USD$2,970,000
  2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 130894
Sold for USD$9,900,000
  2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sports Saloon
Chassis#: 169341
Sold for USD$797,307
  2013 Bonhams - The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale
 
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster Model
Sold for USD$34,500
  2012 RM - Milhous Collection, Fla
 
1937 Mercedes 540 K cabriolet B 1937
Sold for USD$646,491
  2012 Artcurial Motorcars at Rétromobile
 
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet 'C'
Chassis#: 236583
Sold for USD$667,000
  2012 Bonhams - The Scottsdale Sale, Az
 
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A - Coachwork by Sindelfingen
Sold for USD$1,350,079
  2011 Coys - A217 True Greats
 
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 154140
Sold for USD$9,680,000
  2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A by Factory Sindelfingen
Chassis#: 154081
Sold for USD$1,996,988
  2011 RM Auctions - Villa d'Este
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K image  
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet C
Chassis#: 169312
Sold for USD$612,630
  2011 Bonhams - Automobilia, Motos de collection et Automobiles d'exception au Grand Palais
 

Mercedes-Benz 540Ks That Failed To Sell At Auction

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster1540802023 Mecum : Monterey$2,600,000$3,500,000$4,500,000
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster1540802021 Mecum : Monterey   
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee   
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster 2020 Mecum : Indy   
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B1693672020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais $650,000$750,000
1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPORT CABRIOLET A1541462016 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction   
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen1541462015 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona$3,100,000$3,400,000$4,000,000

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1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K vehicle thumbnail image  
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1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K vehicle thumbnail image  1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K vehicle thumbnail image  
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1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K

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Other Mercedes-Benz 540K model years

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Vehicle Profiles