Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B

1934 debuted with the series W29 the successor type for the Kompressor-cars SS, SSK and SSKL at the Mercedes-Benz stand at the ‘Internationale Automobil- und Motorrad-Ausstellung’ (IAMA) in Berlin/Germany. Initially, the Swabians sold the new model as 500 K with a 100 hp five-liter inline-eight cylinder engine, which could provide 160 hp for a short time by using a Roots blower. In order to be able to fulfill every customer request, Mercedes offered three different chassis with two different lengths. On the standard chassis with 3.29 meters wheelbase they based the four-door Limousine, the two-door Tourenwagen (touring car) as well as the long four-seater Cabriolet B and Cabriolet C versions. For the sportier superstructures of the Cabriolet A, Roadster 2+2, Spezial Roadster, Coupé and Autobahn-Kurier, there was a chassis with rear-offset engine and for Sport Coupé and Sport Roadster they offered a chassis with a wheelbase of 2.98 meters. All different chassis could be ordered without bodywork, which was gladly accepted by customers such as the Shah of Persia, who ordered a one-off coachbuilt car at Erdmann & Rossi.

In October 1936 Mercedes-Benz presented the advanced 540 K at Paris Motor Show, which now carried a 5.4 liter inline-eight cylinder engine with 115 hp under the hood, which increased to 180 hp with switched-on blower. Apart from slight modifications, the technical base and the different chassis lenghts remained the same. Thus, the various different bodyworks continued to appear in the brochures, supplemented by the possibility to send a bare chassis to the coachbuilder of their choice to obtain an individual one-off. Today, both 500 K and 540 K are among the sought-after rarities of the brand. Of course, especially the rare Sport Roadster and Spezial Roadster achieve crazy prices at auctions. But also the more bourgeois constructions are interesting design highlights. Overall Mercedes-Benz built exactly 760 copies of the W29.

Mecum Auctions brings such a vehicle in the form of a Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet B under the hammer during Monterey Car Week. This is by far the most built specimen of bodywork of the W29, but many of them have been converted into the more valuable bodystyles over the past decades. In addition the war years drastically decimated stock as well. Accordingly, the four-seater Cabriolet B now also reaches high prices.

The now offered vehicle was admitted on August 24, 1937 as a demonstrator for Mercedes-Benz. Today it is part of the San Francisco ‘The Academy of Art University Collection’, which is now parting with some vehicles during Monterey Car Week. In recent years the 540 K underwent extensive restoration work, where engine, chassis and body were preserved as original as possible. Matching the black paint, the chrome parts received refurbishment and now shine like a mirror. On both sides of the split bonnet sit spare wheels, which are provided with wire rims in bodycolor as are the four other wheels. Inside, red leather pleases eyes and touch, while behind the big steeringwheel sits a wooden dashboard with central instrumentation with the round instruments surrounded by mother of pearl. Mecum expects a hammer price in the range of 650,000 to 750,000 US$.

Images: Mecum Auctions