alsancle Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 http://www.vandp.net/sales/976/1938-mercedes-benz-540k-cabriolet-a/ 1938 Mercedes Benz 540K Cabriolet A Concours Restoration just being completed. This car was built & delivered new in Germany as a wedding present for the first owners daughter back in 1938. The first owner was a prominent meat factory owner in Northern Germany. After the war the car was bought by an american service man, from the original owner and exported to the USA. After that the car spent decades in a private museum in the USA. It was eventually aquired by an austrian collector and repatriated back to Germany. The total mileage of the car must be very low. When dismantling the car for restoration it was noted that all the matching numbered components; engine, gearbox and rear axle proved to have almost no wear whatsoever. Being cosmetically patinated the then German owner made the decision to give it a full nut & bolt restoration back to better then new condition. Every component Including chassis and bodywork has received a total nut and bolt restoration always maintaining the originality of the parts. The complete work is being done by a leading German specialist who very early on specialized in Mercedes- Benz Kompressor cars. The technical restoration has taken several years. Currently the bodywork is about to be finished and the upholstery is being done. The choice of colour for the hood and the interior theoretically still may be chosen by the new owner. We expect the car to be ready to go in February 2017 & plan to display it on our stand at Technoclassica Essen in 2017. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 (edited) First 500/540K auction of the new year, @ RM Arizona. Went for $4.6M in 2011, $7.5M in 2013. One-off, but not the best looking roadster (probably why it has been auctioned 3 times in 3.5 years). I predict no sale, high bid $5M. Hope I'm wrong. Edited December 10, 2016 by 540K (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davlet Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Wait is that the one with USSR history? And owned by Stalin's son? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 The Stalin thing was something that got attached to it later in life by Tom Barrett . I think AQ has the story of how it was "liberated" was great. it doesn't have the set back radiator. So fairly analogous to the last Speciak Roadster incarnation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Here it is when relatively new. Looks like its missing the windwings now, and the door hinges were originally painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 17, 2016 Author Share Posted December 17, 2016 I think this is a well done replica executed on a 320 chassis but hard to tell from their pictures: http://www.ebay.com/itm/222347970430 We have created an entirely new Mercedes-Benz 500 using the original hardware. Chassis and drivetrain taken from a w163 ML320. Iron body created by the original drawings Mercedes is the most similar to the original 500 MB. The result was a modern car with a classic body, excellent handling and comfort, with a true spirit of Mercedes 500 30-ies! On the production took nine months. Thank you for your attention. For questions call or write me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 All the photos are closeups. Can't really get a sense of proportions. Looks like interesting work, but not going to fool anyone who knows these cars. I wonder if the wheelbase is anywhere near correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 17, 2016 Author Share Posted December 17, 2016 Assuming they didn't use a "N" short chassis then the wheelbase should be close. We need Henry to chime in with the exact dimensions but the 320 was almost the size of a 540k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 17, 2016 Author Share Posted December 17, 2016 I'll assume most of the car guys on this thread can guess the location but my question is what's with the trunk? Is that really Sindelfingen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 The first thing that came to mind when I saw that was this monstrosity (I wonder whatever happened to it). I remember someone running to a hardware store when this car was restored in the 1970s, coming back with some metal trim that was eventually used on the bottom edge of each side. !!! True, true true story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilomagnet Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 On 18.12.2016 at 0:24 AM, alsancle said: I'll assume most of the car guys on this thread can guess the location but my question is what's with the trunk? Is that really Sindelfingen? Hmm, probably enlarged the trunk in period but who knows. Whats up with ride height of the rear? They also have a 540K Cab A series 2 and a 500K Roadster (but no way as fancy as the Special Roadsters) plus a couple big 770K. All the MBs look very tired though, some of the Bugattis have been made running again and cleaned up in recent years but the MBs are probably low priority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilomagnet Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Oops forgot the best MB there...540K Erdmann & Rossi Cabrio. Its sad to see this spectacular car sitting there. It looks just as tired as it did in the 60ies today. This could be a possible Pebble Beach winner if given a nut and bolt resto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 15 minutes ago, tilomagnet said: Hmm, probably enlarged the trunk in period but who knows. Whats up with ride height of the rear? I'm thinking it has to be on jacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadster36 Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 http://www.prewarcar.com/classifieds/ad203134.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 On 19/12/2016 at 1:00 PM, West Peterson said: The first thing that came to mind when I saw that was this monstrosity (I wonder whatever happened to it). I remember someone running to a hardware store when this car was restored in the 1970s, coming back with some metal trim that was eventually used on the bottom edge of each side. !!! True, true true story. That appears to be either a Saoutchik, or a Figoni & Falaschi body. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Saoutchik, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Magno Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 The eBay replica is built on an ML320 chassis, the modern SUV, the one MB started making in 1998. not a pre-war 320. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Anyone going to Arizona car week in January? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 9 hours ago, 540K said: Anyone going to Arizona car week in January? I think Kirk is going? Ed too. I haven't gone in a while. Will probably be a while too before I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 I'll be there for Tuesday afternoon, leaving Thursday morning, got to chase a car out on the coast. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 On 12/20/2016 at 0:18 PM, alsancle said: I'm thinking it has to be on jacks. I believe all the cars in the ex-Schlumpf collection are up on jacks, not on the axles but on the frames, taking pressure off tires so to speak..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) RM will have a Cab B at Amelia Island in March. 130921 last sold at auction in 2001 for $313,500, so the owner stands to make a profit (unless there were private sales more recently). Says 540K but has 500K body style with louvered bonnet. Nice looking car but not restored to perfection. Looks like something straight out of the 70's in fire engine red and ghastly white walls. Edited January 8, 2017 by 540K (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 There wasn't really a hard model transition as the 540k changes were phased in over many cars. In fact there were running changes throughout the 500k/540k production. So this is an early 540k with what is traditionally considered a 500k Cab B body. The one time I actually measured a late 500k Cab C with a relatively early 540k Cab C the wheelbases were identical as well as most of the basic measurements. The 313,500 was achieved at Hershey 1 month after 9/11. The car had been in the Blackhawk and this was a true no reserve auction that had some real bargains. I talked to the owner a few years ago at Hershey and I recall him saying that Paul Russel had done a bunch of service. I would guess it is still mostly sporting its 1980s restoration. Here is Rick Carey's review. It should be noted that the Cab C his is referring to overheated in the parking lot because of a hole in the radiator and had to be towed over the block. Never conducive to a high sale when that happens. Lot # 36 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 130921; Red Orange/Tan, Tan top; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00o/o; Final Price: $308,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, dual sidemounts, outside exhaust header pipes, dual spotlights, single driving light. A very high quality older restoration that's mellowed nicely but is still sharp and could be a show car if thoroughly detailed. Wheel chrome is dull, great paint and interior. Not quite the condition of the 500K Cab C sold here for $253,000, but this is a 540K and that makes all the difference. It would take an added zero (and then some) to own a 540K Special Roadster in this condition making this, relatively at least, an inherently good value even if it's appropriate for a Cab B in today's market. -- The Auto Collections, Hershey, 70/72/2OOt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 http://newatlas.com/mercedes-benz-special-roadster/47170/ Nice summary of Special Roadster sales. He suggests that rising prices for Cabs may surpass the value of Nawrocki or Prahl roadsters, and that eventually owners may turn the replica roadsters back into Cabs. I think that's very unlikely, considering the reason people rebody is for the styling, not the dollar value. My understanding is that the Cabs sold better in the 30's because there was room for 4 people and luggage, and that's what was needed for daily drivers. I don't see a day when a collector of these cars is going to say, "Gee, I think I'll spend another million on this beautiful $2M roadster to give it more seats and luggage space." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Are there any current photos of what this car looks like today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davlet Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Does anyone know by chance what was last bit for http://www.rmsothebys.com/az17/arizona/lots/1939-mercedes-benz-540-k-special-roadster-by-sindelfingen/1691511 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 Sold for a bit over 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davlet Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 That was last bit I thought . But was it sold or no? Not sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 When it got to 6 it was for sale from what I could tell, so yes it sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 On 1/18/2017 at 1:29 PM, West Peterson said: Are there any current photos of what this car looks like today? I'm still seeking information on this car. Once owned by Joe Bortz. SSK? What did it look like new? What does it look like now. Any help appreciated. Thanks. Is this the same car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 I assume you already asked Joe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 Not an SSK but it looks like an SS and not an S, but I'm not expert on these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Joe said RM had it in one of their auctions. I guess I'll give Ian a call. I'm assuming that since it had a Kompressor, it would be an SSK. Am I wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 SSK is an SS with a short wheelbase "K" for Kurz. All S & SS cars are blown. It is confusing because the K in 500K & 540K stands for Kompressor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 I can't believe I asked that. I knew that. duh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 West, I assume you have seen this? http://bortzautocollection.com/1929MercedezSSCFP.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 Yes. Doesn't answer my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruffsup Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 impressive wood reconstruction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 There is a member on the forum who reads this thread once a while that knows the owner or restorer. Perhaps he will reach out to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davlet Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Is that car Europe? Or US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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