The Mercedes-Benz 540K, along with its predecessor the 500K, stands as a testament to the Stuttgart firm’s pre-war engineering prowess and luxury, representing arguably their most remarkable production models of the 1930s. Evolving from the 500K, the 540K inherited its independently suspended chassis but boasted a larger, more potent 5.4-liter supercharged straight-eight engine. This magnificent machine was among the first projects overseen by Mercedes’ new chief engineer, Max Sailer, a former racing driver who succeeded Hans Nibel after his untimely passing in 1934. A key feature of the 540K was the renowned Mercedes-Benz Roots-type supercharger system. Engaging this system was an intuitive process for the driver: fully depressing the accelerator pedal would simultaneously activate the compressor and seal off the regular air intake to the carburetor. This supercharger technology, rigorously proven in the earlier S-Type series designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, solidified the 540K as the last supercharged production Mercedes for a considerable period.
Unveiled at the Paris Salon in 1936, the Mercedes-Benz 540K showcased an engine capable of producing 115PS in its naturally aspirated form, and a formidable 180PS (178bhp) when the supercharger was engaged. The car utilized a four-speed gearbox, differing from the 500K by employing a direct top gear instead of an overdrive. When the supercharger was active, the 540K’s supercharged inline-eight engine propelled it to speeds nearing 110mph (177km/h), a velocity matched by servo-assisted hydraulic brakes ensuring ample stopping power. Such was its performance capability that Mercedes-Benz in the UK employed racing driver Goffredo ‘Freddy’ Zehender as a technical advisor and demonstration driver, highlighting the supercharged Mercedes-Benz 540K as one of the few genuine 100mph road cars available in the 1930s.
British motoring publication Motor magazine put the Mercedes-Benz 540K to the test and reported enhanced steering and handling compared to the preceding 500K model. They also noted a more comfortable ride, despite the retention of the same all-around independent suspension system featuring parallel links and coil springs at the front, and swing axles at the rear. The Motor‘s road test achieved a top speed of 102mph over a quarter-mile when utilizing the supercharger, and 85mph without it. The servo-assisted brakes received high praise, and the supercharger was observed to operate with relative quietness. The ride quality was deemed superior to the 500K, and the steering and handling were also favorably compared to its predecessor.
In May 1938, Motor‘s competitor, Autocar magazine, also conducted a test of the 540K, achieving a record-breaking top speed for a road-test car at the time. With three occupants, the vehicle reached 104.65mph (168.5km/h) at the Brooklands race circuit in Surrey. H S Linfield, the test driver, vividly described the experience: “One’s foot goes hard down, and an almost demonical howl comes in. The rev counter and speedometer needles leap round their dials: there is perhaps no other car noise in the world so distinctive as that produced by the Mercedes supercharger.”
Towards the end of 1938, an updated Mercedes-Benz 540K was introduced. This revised model incorporated oval-section chassis tubes in place of channel frame members, and adopted sodium-cooled valves, reflecting the company’s successful racing technologies. Production figures underscore the exclusivity of the Mercedes-Benz 540K: 97 units in 1936, 145 in 1937, 95 in 1938, and 69 in 1939, before series production ceased due to the outbreak of war (although an additional three were assembled up to July 1942). In contemporary times, the Mercedes-Benz 540K’s rarity, elegant styling, and impressive performance have solidified its status as one of the most coveted classic cars. When these vehicles occasionally appear on the market, they command significant attention from collectors worldwide.
The specific Mercedes-Benz 540K, bearing commission number ‘247491’, was originally delivered in July 1937 to Mercedes-Benz dealership Messrs Souheur & Chappuis in Brussels, intended for a Baron de Montpellier. Factory records officially designated the body style as a two-door sedan, although it bears a resemblance to a coupé in its aesthetics. Regardless of its formal designation, this body style was among the rarer configurations offered on the 540K chassis. Official body production statistics indicate that only 28 examples of this style were manufactured, presumably by Sindelfingen, Mercedes-Benz’s in-house coachbuilder. Bonhams auction house acknowledges Mercedes-Benz for providing this information from their factory archives, which unfortunately lack details regarding the car’s history after its initial delivery. At the time of cataloging, no further information concerning its present mechanical condition or subsequent ownership was available.
This particular 540K, bearing chassis number ‘169341’, is presented as an older restoration, finished in a sophisticated dark midnight blue exterior with a refined dark sandy beige cloth interior. The dashboard is equipped with a comprehensive array of instrumentation. Notable features include dual side-mounted spare wheels, Bosch headlamps, a centrally positioned spotlight, air horns, and side-exit exhausts. The supercharger remains in its position beneath the hood. Offering four-passenger capacity combined with exhilarating performance, this rare and stylish 540K coupé embodies the pinnacle of automotive luxury and engineering attainable in the late 1930s, and it represents a superb example of this iconic German classic.
