1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K

Daimler and Benz merged in June of 1926, and among the assets was Ferdinand Porsche, who had joined Daimler in 1923. The Daimler-Benz workforce had around 20,000 employees but its output was limited, with production reaching roughly 2,000 cars a year. The Mannheim factory primarily produced mid-range automobiles, with a few custom-built luxury automobiles being constructed in Untertürkheim near Stuttgart.

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K photo
Special Tourer by Sindelfingen
View info and history
At the Berlin Motor Show in February of 1933, the first new product from the Daimler-Benz merger was introduced, the Model 380. It had a fully independent suspension, and a supercharged SOHC straight-eight engine displacing 3,820cc. With elegant and luxurious coachwork fitted, the 380 quickly proved inadequate to carry the load. The performance issues were soon resolved with the introduction of the W29 500K, which re-introduced the 'K' Kompressor. The 500K, largely attributed to engineer Hans Nibel, remained in production through 1936 with 342 examples produced. Hans Nibel succeeded Ferdinand Porsche as Technical Director of Daimler-Benz AG in 1929 after Dr. Porsche's resignation from the company. Nibel was born in Bohemia in 1880 and studied at Munich Munich Technical College and joined Benz & Cie in 1904, becoming chief engineer in 1908. Among his accomplishments included championing shaft drive and creating the Blitzen Benz speed record car of 1910. He was instrumental in the creation of the powerful pre-World War I touring cars and for the postwar sports models. After the merger, his work was concentrated on advanced chassis engineering that would become the mainstay of Mercedes-Benz during the 1930s. He came up with a pushrod overhead valve design for the straight-eight engine, and the all-independent suspension on the Typ 380 was something he had pioneered on the Typ 170 sedan.

At the Paris Salon in October of 1936, Mercedes-Benz introduced the highly refined successor to the 500K, the 540K. Along with Hans Nibel, the car's engineering was the work of Hans Gustav Röhr, an accomplished inventor, former World War I fighter pilot, founder of Röhr-Werke AG, and Adler chief engineer. Röhr joined Daimler-Benz AG as technical director in 1935. Among his experimentations was front-wheel drive technology which, after his death in August of 1937 at the age of 42, his prototypes were destroyed.

The overhead-valve inline eight-cylinder engine had an updraft pressurized carburetor, a displacement size of 5,401cc, and a driver-activated, gear-driven Roots-Type supercharger. In naturally aspirated form it offered 115 horsepower; with the supercharger engaged, that figure rose of 180 hp. The engine was mated to a four-speed synchronized manual gearbox and there were power-assisted four-wheel drum brakes. The suspension was independent with coil springs in the front and swing-arms in the rear. With a top speed exceeding 100 mph, the 540K was among the fastest regular production automobiles in the world.

Along with its mesmerizing performance, it had style to match, with a long hood, a raked V-shaped radiator shell, sweeping fenders, chrome accents, and twin bright external exhaust pipes. The factory offered 11 cataloged body styles with coachwork performed at Sindelfingen, with each example being hand-built. They were thoughtfully design, well-appointed, and exactingly finished. They were styled and engineered by Hermann Ahrens for the various wheelbase lengths. The 2,980mm short chassis was fitted with the Cabriolet A two-passenger drophead coupe, of which 83 were built. These were two-seaters with blind rear quarters that had accommodations behind the front seats for luggage. Cabriolets B and C were four-seaters of 'four-window' and 'two-window' configuration, respectively, both on the 3,290mm wheelbase. Both the cabriolet B and cabriolet C had rear seating. The B had rear quarter windows and the C had blind quarters on the folding top. The 3,880mm long wheelbase platform was reserved for the convertible saloons, of which 12 were built. There were three separate four-door styles, the cabriolets D, E, and F, which accommodated up to seven passengers.

Production ended during the early 1940s after just 419 examples were built. The last is believed to have received its coachwork around 1943.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2019

Related Reading : Mercedes-Benz 540K History

The Mercedes-Benz 500K was introduced in 1934 with the K representing a Kompressor, German for supercharger. In non-aspirated form, the engine produced 100 horsepower. With the adoption of the Kompressor, the horsepower jumped to an impressive 160 making them one of the fastest grand touring cars of their time. The vehicles rode on a 116-inch wheelbase. In 1936 the 540K was introduced which increased....
Continue Reading >>

Related Reading : Mercedes-Benz 540K History

Two new – and very different – Mercedes models were displayed at the Berlin Motor Show in March 1934. One was the 130, Mercedes-Benzs first production car with a rear-mounted four-cylinder engine which developed 26 hp from a displacement of 1.3 liters. The other was the 500 K, an imposing, elegant sports car with supercharged eight-cylinder engine with the supercharger engaged, it developed 160....
Continue Reading >>

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

540K

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
129.50 in.
8 cyl., 329.53 CID., 180.00hp
129.53 in.
8 cyl., 329.53 CID., 180.00hp
129.50 in., 129.53 in.
8 cyl., 329.53 CID., 180.00hp
129.50 in.
8 cyl., 329.53 CID., 180.00hp
$7,500 - $7,500
129.50 in.
8 cyl., 329.53 CID., 180.00hp
129.50 in.
8 cyl., 329.53 CID., 180.00hp
129.50 in.
8 cyl., 329.59 CID., 180.00hp

Related Automotive News

The Gregorie Neck Collection Joins The Amelia Auction Highlights

The Gregorie Neck Collection Joins The Amelia Auction Highlights

Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE HGTY) company, is thrilled to announce the consignment of the Gregorie Neck Collection of Richland, South Carolina to its upcoming Amelia Island Auction, March 1-2, 2024. The collection includes 16 outstanding,...
Magnificent Mercedes-Benz 540K wins Best of Show at Salon Privé Concours d'Elégance

Magnificent Mercedes-Benz 540K wins Best of Show at Salon Privé Concours d'Elégance

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A Singelfenden wins top award at Salon Privé Unique low-drag Lightweight tops Jaguar E-type class Monte-Carlo Rally Aston Martin DB2 scoops two awards Superb entry spanned everything from veteran machinery to s...
The Amelia 2019 Celebrates Mercedes-Benz 500K - 540K

The Amelia 2019 Celebrates Mercedes-Benz 500K - 540K

Jacksonville, FL - A special class of Mercedes-Benz 500K - 540K will take center stage at the 24th annual Amelia Island Concours dElegance on March 10, 2019. The 500K and 540K descend from the mighty Mercedes-Benz SSK, winner of the brutal...
MERCEDES-BENZ AT THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE: COUPES FROM THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

MERCEDES-BENZ AT THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE: COUPES FROM THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

International debut of the 540K Streamliner Coupe 1914 French Grand Prix 1-2-3 racers reunited Concept Coupe SUV – U.S. Debut World premiere of the S65 AMG Coupe Pebble Beach, CA – Mercedes-Benz will showcase its long tradition of history...
RM Auctions Confirms Second London Sale Day With The 'Ultimate Mercedes-Benz Collection'

RM Auctions Confirms Second London Sale Day With The 'Ultimate Mercedes-Benz Collection'

RM Auctions announces sale of incredible single-owner collection of 74 Mercedes-Benz cars Collection charts over 80 years of Mercedes production history Highlights of collection include a 1938 540K Cabriolet A and a 1938 540K Cabriolet B Lon...
World's Most Coveted Supercars, Including Sammy Hagar's 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, 2018 Bugatti Chiron and 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, Headed to Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale Auction

World's Most Coveted Supercars, Including Sammy Hagar's 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, 2018 Bugatti Chiron and 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, Headed to Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale Auction

Barrett-Jackson, The Worlds Greatest Collector Car Auctions, will offer some of the worlds most coveted supercars during the 2024 Scottsdale Auction, held January 20-28, 2024. Each of these supercars are masterpieces of automotive engineering, design...
Past Best of Show Winners at The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Past Best of Show Winners at The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

overview1 The 70th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance was celebrated with a spectacular display of previous Best of Show winners. Thirty-seven examples graced the showfield and many were still with the same owners who raised the trophy...
RM Auctions Amelia Island Preview - 2014

RM Auctions Amelia Island Preview - 2014

0 RM Auctions, the worlds largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles, will hold its Amelia Island, Florida, sale on March 8th at the Ritz-Carlton. As the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours dElegance, RMs...
Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction Preview

Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction Preview

Gooding %26 Company, the auction house acclaimed for selling the worlds most significant and valuable collector cars, will hold its annual Amelia Island Auction on Friday, March 7 on the Omni Amelia Island Plantation. David Gooding, President and founder...
63rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Names 1934 Packard  'Best of Show'

63rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Names 1934 Packard 'Best of Show'

The competition showcased 248 cars, including 48 from abroad PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 18, 2013) -- A 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria owned by Joseph and Margie Cassini III of West Orange, New Jersey, was named Best...

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.