A picture book
The Mercedes-Benz 500 K was introduced in 1934 as the successor to the SS/SSK. It had an eight-cylinder in-line engine with a capacity of 5 litres, which produced 100 hp. And it could be increased to 160 hp at short notice by means of a switchable Roots blower. Picture below: 500 K Cabriolet C from 1937.
The 500 K was available with three different chassis, the basic model had a wheelbase of 3.29 metres, and there was a sportier version with the same wheelbase but with the engine set back by about 20 centimetres. And finally there was the short wheelbase, 2.98 metres. Picture below: 500 K Sport Roadster from 1935.
The bare chassis cost 15,000 Reichsmarks. And it was often used by external coachbuilders. Picture below: 500 K Cabriolet from 1935, body by Saoutchik.
The most desirable cars were, of course, those with the short wheelbase. A Sport Roadster and a Sport Coupé were offered ex works at a price of 22’000 Reichs-Mark. Picture below: 500 K Sport Roadster from 1936.
In October 1936, the successor, the 540 K, was presented in Paris. With a capacity of 5.4 litres, the eight-cylinder engine produced 115 hp, with a compressor 180 hp. The top speed was an impressive 170 km/h. Picture below: 540 K Cabriolet A from 1936.
There were again the same three model variants as of the 500 K. And a special version with a huge engine. In addition, there was a special version with a huge 3.88 metre wheelbase, of which 12 were produced. Most popular, however, were the cabriolets, of which there were three versions, A, B and C. Picture below: 540 K Cabriolet C from 1939.
The 500 and 540 K came with a manual 4-speed gearbox. On request, however, a 5-speed gearbox could be installed, with the three top gears even being synchronised. Picture below: 540 K Cabriolet A from 1939.
In Sindelfingen, about 1500 employees worked on the production of the type W29, as the internal designation was. Even then, a high degree of customisation was possible, which is why hardly any two cars are the same, even if they have the same designation. Picture below: 540 K Cabriolet A from 1939.
A total of 761 500 K and 540 K were built between 1934 and 1940 (plus one 580 K). Most of the cars were delivered with factory bodies, only about 70 examples wore special bodies: Picture below: 540 K from 1938, a drophead coupé by Lancefield.
Besides the famous Autobahn Courier, the Special Roadsters were of course the most desirable models. The car in the picture below was built in 1937 for the King of Afghanistan – and with an estimated price of 9 to 12 million it is the most expensive of the supercharged Benzes offered by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey.
Photos: RM Sotheby’s. More beautiful classics in our archives.
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