1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A

This body style first appeared in 1933 and was first introduced at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show as the Mercedes-Benz 500K. The 540K was introduced in 1936 and built on the 500K with a larger more powerful engine. The 5.4-liter, straight eight-cylinder engine produced 115 horsepower when fed by the dual updraft carburetor. An additional 65 horsepower was added when the gas pedal was depressed, engaging the Kompressor.

The bodies of the nicest of the Mercedes 540Ks were built by Mercedes in its Sindelfingen plant in Germany. Launched at the Paris Salon in 1936, these supercharged 5.4-liter, 8-cylinder cars were built in many different styles from closed coupes to seven-seat sedans. There were also six different cabriolet designs.

This particular cabriolet was delivered to the Mercedes dealer, Carlo Saporiti, in Milan, Italy in October of 1937. It remained there until the mid-fifties. The car changed hands three times before it fell into the hands of racing school owner Skip Barber, in 2001. The current owner purchased the car in 2006 and had the vehicle completely restored.

It is one of 97 examples built at Sindelfingen and one of a very few with left-hand drive. In its day, the 540K Cabriolet A sold for 28,000 Reichsmarks. Sadly Mercedes ceased production of the 540K in 1942.

A total of 406 (or as many as 419) 540s were produced on this chassis from 1936 through 1940. The original price was $7,500 when the average American car of the era sold for $750.