1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K

Sold for $1,215,000 at 2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge.
The Mercedes-Benz 500K was first shown at the Berlin Motor Show in 1934. It had a supercharged 5-liter, 6-cylinder engine, developing 160 bhp, which was particularly suited to the new Autobahns that were being built in Germany at the time.

This car was delivered new in 1935 to a Berlin Government Labor party leader named Rudolf Schmeer. It is one in a series of only 16 Open Tourers produced. Very few 500Ks still exist today, and this one has unusual touring style coachwork. This 500K chassis (number 113696) has a rare one-off special phaeton body built by the Mercedes-Benz factory. Open coachwork was offered in several forms; two-seater convertibles were offered in 'A' form, which was a sporty and low slung design. The ranged continued through the alphabet to a 'D'. Only a small number received the 'Tourenwagen' or sports Touring coachwork, as it added at least an additional 22,000 Reichsmarks. The style emulated the British touring cars of the same era, which suggests the importance of the UK market for Mercedes-Benz.

This particular example was built in April of 1935 and was completed in June of that year. It left the factory wearing blue paintwork with black fenders and a black top and interior. The car later came into the care of a former Motor Pool mechanic who maintained the car in Berlin first for the Germans and then through the Russian invasion. The car was abandoned by them and the mechanic brought the car back to Austria. This is where it was found by Cecil Lemon and Ezekiel Ramirez, who had been stationed in Salzburg, Austria. Lemon and Ramirez purchased the Mercedes and brought it to the United States, where ownership passed to Lemon, who retained the car for a short time, selling it in 1955. It was purchased by Ivan P. Baxter of Hartland, Wisconsin.

After joining the Imperial Palace, it was given a restoration by California restorer, Mike Fennel of Saugas. It was given its complete repaint in the solid silver-grey livery which it wears today. The interior was finished in red leather.

More recently, it was given a newer refurbishment before being shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2008 and also at the Amelia Island Concours in 2010.