Mercedes-Benz 540 K Mayfair
When the talk turns to pre-war classic cars from Mercedes-Benz, many classic car enthusiasts immediately think of the 540 K. This legendary model was only available for a very short period before World War 2 in a correspondingly small number of copies. Only 12 units of the 540 K with long wheelbase and touring car body, internally called W24, were produced in 1936 for internal driving tests and the German government. In 1943 and 1944 a few more vehicles followed. In addition there was the series internally called W29 with three different chassis available. The abbreviation W29 officially also included the 500 K with a smaller engine, which appeared in the official price lists between 1934 and 1939. In addition to naked chassis for external coachbuilders, the plant in Sindelfingen produced two-door touring cars, four-door saloons as well as the Cabriolet B and Cabriolet C based on the normal wheelbase, the Cabriolet A, Roadster 2+2, Spezial-Roadster and Autobahnkurier based on the chassis with set-back engine, and the Sport Roadster and Sport Coupé based on the short wheelbase chassis. When the 540 K was added to the range as a new top-of-the-line model in 1936, this range of bodyworks and chassis was retained.
A 5.4-liter inline eight-cylinder engine with a switchable Roots blower was now located under the two-part, side-opening bonnet. This engine delivered 85 kW/115 hp continuously and, with the compressor switched on, up to 132 kW/180 hp and 431 newtonmeters of torque via a manual four-speed gearbox to the rear axle for a short time. From 1939 on, a five-speed transmission performed this task. This enabled the 540 K to reach a topspeed of up to 170 kph (105.6 mph), depending on the bodywork. Today, the beautifully designed and hand-built Spezial-Roadsters are particularly sought-after. 30 of which are based on the 500 K and another 28 were built as the 540 K. Even rarer was the Autobahnkurier (six copies) and external bodyworks from independent coachbuilders. Both engines and all three different chassis came to only 70 copies, which got their bodywork outside of Sindelfingen/Germany.
How many 540 K with the set-back engine chassis received a special body cannot be determined today. However, such a car is currently being offered by Mecum Auctions on the company’s website. Since large live auctions are currently impossible due to the worldwide Corona pandemic, many auction houses use their online channels to sell rare vehicles.
This red painted 540 K went as a bare chassis to coachbuilder Mayfair in London, where a two-seater Roadster body in the basic style of the works Spezial-Roadster was created. However, the British company covered the rear wheels and gave the vehicle considerably more chrome trim. The history of this car with chassis number 154080 is well known. In 1936 this Mercedes-Benz was originally sold to a customer in Paris after its completion. Ralph Englestad, founder and owner of the Imperial Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, bought the Roadster in 1995. Under his direction a concours-quality restoration took place. In 2002, the car became the property of General William Lyon. It was one of the highlights at the celebration of the 125 years of Mercedes-Benz celebrations at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2011. Now Mecum Auctions is looking for a new owner at an unspecified price.
Images: Mecum Auctions
