.jpg?w=1)
Details
Formerly the property of Dr. E. Beeh, President of the German Mercedes-Benz Supercharged Club
+1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SUPERCHARGED SPORT CABRIOLET A
COACHWORK BY DAIMLER-BENZ SINDELFINGEN
Chassis No. 154084
Engine No. 154084
Sandbeige with tan leather interior and black soft top
Engine: straight eight, in-line, overhead valve, 5,401cc., 115bhp or 180bhp with supercharger engaged at 3,400rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual; Suspension: independent coil spring suspension front and rear; Brakes: four wheel drum. Left hand drive.
At the end of the 1920s, the magnificent old Mercedes S, SS and SSK models still enjoyed enormous success both as road and racing cars, notably at the German Grand Prix and the European Hillclimb Championship which went to Rudolf Carraciola's SSK in 1930. But plainly something was needed to revive the regular German motor industry, where the eighty-six different firms in 1924 had dropped to seventeen in 1928. Mercedes-Benz responded by transferring production from the old Benz factory to Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and developing new smaller models, of which the 170 and rear engined 130 are best known.
The large luxury cars were now selling in very small numbers, but prestige demanded that both these and a racing program should not be ignored. The redoubtable Silver Arrows were the result of the commitment to racing, while the eight cylinder 500 which appeared in 1933 was the first of a new breed of exotic grand touring and formal motor cars. A supercharged version of the 500 soon arrived, but even so sales were extremely limited and in 1935 accounted for only 190 cars. Top speed was 160 km/h and new chief engineer Gustav Rohr, well known for the advanced Rohr cars of the era, progressively improved the car. He was also involved with the awesome Mercedes-Benz racing cars of the time, which saw Hermann Lang, Manfred von Brauchitsch and Rudolf Caracciola sweep virtually all before them.
An enlarged 5.4-liter version was developed in 1934/5 and made its first appearance at the Paris Salon in October 1936. Daimler-Benz was without doubt very proud of their latest achievement and their publicity material sums up the aura of the model: The name conjures up visions of breath-taking exploits of racing cars and drivers of international fame, but also of superlative comfort and coachwork of exquisite beauty, fine paintwork, brightly polished metal, the finest hardwoods and leather - massive and yet outstandingly attractive bodies - in short: the car for the connoisseur.
The eight cylinder 540K engine developed 115bhp, or 180bhp with the supercharger engaged, giving the car a top speed of approximately 170km/h. Other improvements over the 500K included chassis refinements, uprated suspension and a better braking system. Factory records indicate that some 419 examples of the 540K were produced between 1936 and 1939. However, only 32 of this particular Sports Cabriolet A version were produced in 1936 and 1937 and only 12 are known to survive.
Chassis number 154084 is a quite magnificent Sports Cabriolet A that was ordered early in 1937 with internal order number 1390882. Its bodywork was finished at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen factory on April 9th, 1937. On the same day that the body was completed, it was transported from the Sindelfingen coachwork department to Untertürkheim where it was joined to the chassis. On July 24th, 1937 its proud new owner, Dr. William Walter Birge, collected the finished car from Untertürkheim and drove it home to Paris. Following the Second World War, 154084 was bought by an American enthusiast in Baltimore who had a large collection of important European classics. In 1980 the car returned from the US to Europe via a well known classic car dealer and went to the Mercedes-Benz Supercharged Club President, Dr. E. Beeh in Stuttgart, Germany.
Dr. Beeh, who has been the President of the Supercharged Club since it was founded, enthusiastically used his 540K on many European events such as the Monte Carlo, Tour des Alpes, Berta-Benz and MVC (Mercedo Veteranen Club) to name but a few. In total he put about 60,000 pleasurable kilometers on the car over a period of twenty-one years before he decided to undertake a full nut and bolt restoration. This meticulous two year restoration that began in 1997 was carried out to the highest German standards by Rolf Wagner, hugely respected for his restoration work on supercharged Mercedes-Benz. The bodywork was removed from the wooden frame (documented with photographs) and restored where necessary. Nothing was overlooked on the mechanical side and the engine, gearbox, axles, brakes, suspension and starter were all fully rebuilt. Cosmetically no details were left untouched and the car received a new top, upholstery and interior, the instruments were rebuilt, new glass was fitted and all chrome parts were redone. The cost of the restoration was at least $400,000 and the result is truly stunning. Since the restoration only a further 5,600km have been driven.
This superb Sport Cabriolet A retains all of its original major components: chassis, engine and bodywork. The radiator on this example is positioned back behind the front axle, there are extremely long front fenders and the twin spare wheels are mounted at the rear. These features are also found on the 540K Special Roadsters, thus these two body styles are among the most sought after of all the factory coachwork. With such striking bodylines these cars had a far more sporting appearance than the more common production cars. These highly sought after supercharged Mercedes-Benz were among the ultimate cars that money could buy in the late 1930s. The beautiful proportions exude both power and grace. Appreciation of such fine machinery can really only be done in person and we thoroughly recommend that prospective buyers take the opportunity to view the car. This is undoubtedly the finest restored 540K that Christie's has had the pleasure of offering and it is the first time for many, many years that a 540 Sport Cabriolet A has been available at auction. This hugely desirable body style is also one of just twelve known to exist.
+1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SUPERCHARGED SPORT CABRIOLET A
COACHWORK BY DAIMLER-BENZ SINDELFINGEN
Chassis No. 154084
Engine No. 154084
Sandbeige with tan leather interior and black soft top
Engine: straight eight, in-line, overhead valve, 5,401cc., 115bhp or 180bhp with supercharger engaged at 3,400rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual; Suspension: independent coil spring suspension front and rear; Brakes: four wheel drum. Left hand drive.
At the end of the 1920s, the magnificent old Mercedes S, SS and SSK models still enjoyed enormous success both as road and racing cars, notably at the German Grand Prix and the European Hillclimb Championship which went to Rudolf Carraciola's SSK in 1930. But plainly something was needed to revive the regular German motor industry, where the eighty-six different firms in 1924 had dropped to seventeen in 1928. Mercedes-Benz responded by transferring production from the old Benz factory to Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and developing new smaller models, of which the 170 and rear engined 130 are best known.
The large luxury cars were now selling in very small numbers, but prestige demanded that both these and a racing program should not be ignored. The redoubtable Silver Arrows were the result of the commitment to racing, while the eight cylinder 500 which appeared in 1933 was the first of a new breed of exotic grand touring and formal motor cars. A supercharged version of the 500 soon arrived, but even so sales were extremely limited and in 1935 accounted for only 190 cars. Top speed was 160 km/h and new chief engineer Gustav Rohr, well known for the advanced Rohr cars of the era, progressively improved the car. He was also involved with the awesome Mercedes-Benz racing cars of the time, which saw Hermann Lang, Manfred von Brauchitsch and Rudolf Caracciola sweep virtually all before them.
An enlarged 5.4-liter version was developed in 1934/5 and made its first appearance at the Paris Salon in October 1936. Daimler-Benz was without doubt very proud of their latest achievement and their publicity material sums up the aura of the model: The name conjures up visions of breath-taking exploits of racing cars and drivers of international fame, but also of superlative comfort and coachwork of exquisite beauty, fine paintwork, brightly polished metal, the finest hardwoods and leather - massive and yet outstandingly attractive bodies - in short: the car for the connoisseur.
The eight cylinder 540K engine developed 115bhp, or 180bhp with the supercharger engaged, giving the car a top speed of approximately 170km/h. Other improvements over the 500K included chassis refinements, uprated suspension and a better braking system. Factory records indicate that some 419 examples of the 540K were produced between 1936 and 1939. However, only 32 of this particular Sports Cabriolet A version were produced in 1936 and 1937 and only 12 are known to survive.
Chassis number 154084 is a quite magnificent Sports Cabriolet A that was ordered early in 1937 with internal order number 1390882. Its bodywork was finished at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen factory on April 9th, 1937. On the same day that the body was completed, it was transported from the Sindelfingen coachwork department to Untertürkheim where it was joined to the chassis. On July 24th, 1937 its proud new owner, Dr. William Walter Birge, collected the finished car from Untertürkheim and drove it home to Paris. Following the Second World War, 154084 was bought by an American enthusiast in Baltimore who had a large collection of important European classics. In 1980 the car returned from the US to Europe via a well known classic car dealer and went to the Mercedes-Benz Supercharged Club President, Dr. E. Beeh in Stuttgart, Germany.
Dr. Beeh, who has been the President of the Supercharged Club since it was founded, enthusiastically used his 540K on many European events such as the Monte Carlo, Tour des Alpes, Berta-Benz and MVC (Mercedo Veteranen Club) to name but a few. In total he put about 60,000 pleasurable kilometers on the car over a period of twenty-one years before he decided to undertake a full nut and bolt restoration. This meticulous two year restoration that began in 1997 was carried out to the highest German standards by Rolf Wagner, hugely respected for his restoration work on supercharged Mercedes-Benz. The bodywork was removed from the wooden frame (documented with photographs) and restored where necessary. Nothing was overlooked on the mechanical side and the engine, gearbox, axles, brakes, suspension and starter were all fully rebuilt. Cosmetically no details were left untouched and the car received a new top, upholstery and interior, the instruments were rebuilt, new glass was fitted and all chrome parts were redone. The cost of the restoration was at least $400,000 and the result is truly stunning. Since the restoration only a further 5,600km have been driven.
This superb Sport Cabriolet A retains all of its original major components: chassis, engine and bodywork. The radiator on this example is positioned back behind the front axle, there are extremely long front fenders and the twin spare wheels are mounted at the rear. These features are also found on the 540K Special Roadsters, thus these two body styles are among the most sought after of all the factory coachwork. With such striking bodylines these cars had a far more sporting appearance than the more common production cars. These highly sought after supercharged Mercedes-Benz were among the ultimate cars that money could buy in the late 1930s. The beautiful proportions exude both power and grace. Appreciation of such fine machinery can really only be done in person and we thoroughly recommend that prospective buyers take the opportunity to view the car. This is undoubtedly the finest restored 540K that Christie's has had the pleasure of offering and it is the first time for many, many years that a 540 Sport Cabriolet A has been available at auction. This hugely desirable body style is also one of just twelve known to exist.
Special notice
Customs Duty (2.5%) is payable on the final bid price. Please note however that, if the purchased lot is subseqently exported within certain procedures, the Customs Duty is refundable to the exporter.