Special post-war Mercedes-Benzes, these are very unknown cars. Despite that die-hard collectors are prepared to pay several million euros for a special and rare edition, like the Mercedes-Benz 540K. The reason why we write about this car, is because one got spotted lately! It took about 77 years, but finally also this model is immortalized on Autogespot. It’s a real highlight, because this is one of the most exclusive Benzes of all time.
Forget the Black Series and forget all those fast supercars. For the real fans, this is the most exciting Mercedes-Benz ever made. This birth took place in 1936, 77 years ago from the moment of writing this article. It was the summum of what was possible for Mercedes-Benz to offer customers, so that days it already was a very expensive car. As years passed by the price only increased, nowadays these cars will be sold for several millions. Also this model is probably owned by a museum or collector. Last year we already saw a Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahnkurrier with preliminary number plate. Remarkably another very expensive post-war Benz was spotted, this time in Monaco. We talk about the Mercedes-Benz 500K, which is slightly less exclusive, but still can be called a real topspot.
In 77 years time the automotive World made huge steps forward. In this particular car you can go to hundred kph in about 16 seconds, which was an big achievement at that time. Also the topspeed of 160.9 kph was impressing, the Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial-Roadster was one of the only few cars which broke the magical boundary of 100 miles per hour. Nowadays even a small Korean city car can beat that, but these were very extraordinary specs for a car. When you drive this car, it’s just like you’re back in the 1930’s, when you’re driving the most beautiful Benz ever made. Maybe that’s just what makes this car so impressing. Despite it’s an almost 80 years old car, it was a real innovative car at that time. These days it was found very innovative if all wheels had independent suspension. Also a four-speed gearbox, specially produced for this car, was standard for the 540K.
The preference of fitting the best Mercedes-Benzes with an eight-cylinder engine origins from this time. An five-liter eight-cylinder produced about 120 bhp, but those eight cylinders weren’t placed in V-shape yet. The long bonnet wasn’t only a design element, it also has to give shelter to eight cylinders, placed in line. Got seriously excited, and want to see this model yourself? The best option is to go to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, you won’t see this beauty on the streets, a real shame for lovers of post-war cars.
