1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K

May 31st, 2019 by

At the 2019 Amelia Island Concours this past weekend, the 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K was honored with first place, winning Best in Show in the Concours d’Elegance.

A rare Autobahn-Kurier model, the Mercedes-Benz 540K, the car sported an ingenious, streamlined body and a 5.4 Liter supercharged v-8, to blow past other vehicles. Built on the W29 chassis, just 761 cars were built, and a mere 419 were made with the supercharged 5.4 Liter engine between 1934 and 1939. A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster went for $9.9 million at the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale auction. 

 

Dimensions:

Exterior:

  • Length: 206.5 inches
  • Width: 75.0 inches
  • Height: 65.0 inches
  • Wheelbase: 129.5 inches
  • Front track: 59.5 inches
  • Rear track: 59.1 inches
  • Ground clearance: 8.0 inches

Tires:

  • Front/Rear: 6.50-17

0-60 time: 16.4 seconds

Top Speed: 105 mph

180 horsepower at 3,500 RPM

318 lb-ft at 2,200 RPM

Features:

  • Engine Location: Front
  • Drive type: Rear Wheel
  • Production years for series: 1934-1941
  • Price: $7,500
  • Weight: 5,720 lbs

Averages at the time:

  • The average car cost: $760
  • The average household income: $1,780
  • The average home: $4,100
  • The average gallon of gas: $0.10

 

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