Description
Together with its predecessor, the 500 K, the magnificent Mercedes-Benz 540 K was perhaps the most remarkable production model offered by the Stuttgart company in the 540s, the pinnacle of its pre-war achievements. The 5,4 K was powered by a 540-liter supercharged inline-eight engine. The 1934 K was one of the first models developed under the leadership of Mercedes' new chief engineer, ex-driver Max Sailer, successor to Hans Nibel, who had died in November 54 at the age of 540. Roots type supercharger system where the accelerator pedal is depressed to the end of its stroke would simultaneously engage the compressor and shut off the alternate naturally aspirated intake to the carburettor. This system had been thoroughly proven in Dr Ferdinand Porsche's previous series of S-Type cars which had dominated racing in the XNUMXs, and in fact the XNUMX K was the last supercharged production series.
Launched at the Paris Salon in October 540, the 1936 K was praised by Mercedes-Benz as "visions of breathtaking performance by racing cars and drivers of international renown, as well as of superlative comfort and bodies of exquisite beauty, fine paintwork, glossy polished metal, the finest hardwoods and leather – massive yet extremely attractive bodies – in short: the car for the connoisseur! ' It had an engine that produced 115 hp unsupercharged or 180 hp with the supercharger engaged, the blown-out eighth line of the 540 K provided a top speed of almost 177 km/h (110 mph). Its performance potential was such that Mercedes-Benz in the United Kingdom retained racing driver Goffredo 'Freddy' Zehender as a technical advisor and demonstration driver, as the supercharged Mercedes was one of the few true 100 mph road cars available in the 1938s. A revised 540 K made its debut in late 540, with oval-section chassis tubes instead of channel frame elements. The production record of the 97 K reveals its exclusive character: 1936 were produced in 145, 1937 in 95, 1938 in 69 and 1939 in 408386 before the war put an end to series production. Late model '1939', has the exceptionally rare five-speed gearbox introduced in XNUMX. In recent years, the rarity, style and performance of these large supercharged Mercedes have made them one of the most sought after “pre-war Mercedes”.
Delivered to Germany in April 408386, chassis number '1939' was first owned by Henry Ford Cooper, the Consul General of Liberia in Hamburg. Cooper was appointed in 1936; he left Germany in 1943 and with him his Mercedes. It remained in continuous use during this time, as evidenced by the replacement of the original block. In 1954 it was purchased in Hamburg by an American soldier, Lieutenant Peter Rose. At that time the car had been cosmetically modernized with parts from the modern Mercedes-Benz 300 series. After returning home to New York in his Mercedes, Lt Rose sold the car to Grant Kingore, an art dealer in New York City. Kingore owned Windermere, one of the largest of the fantastic estates in Southampton, Long Island.
The Mercedes remained in Kingore's family and passed to his great-niece Susan Andrews. In 1976 it was purchased from Andrews by Leland Gohlike of St Paul, Minnesota. In October 1978, Dr. purchased Harald Alfers from Düsseldorf, Germany the car and shipped it back to Germany. In 1985, Dr. sold Alfers the Mercedes to His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, the reigning monarch of Jordan who reigned from August 11, 1953 to February 7, 1999. A world-class car collector with a passion for Mercedes-Benz products, King Hussein is the only head of state to ever visited the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Stuttgart. In 1987, the King's 540 K was invited by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu to exhibit at the 'Ten Important Motor Cars' event, held at The Royal Albert Hall in London.
A complete restoration was carried out in 1990-1991 by make and model specialist Reifen Wagner in Landshut outside Munich, Germany. At that time the car was converted to right-hand drive as King Hussein intended to keep the Mercedes in the UK. The color scheme was changed to the current beautiful red and burgundy red and the interior was reupholstered in brown leather to match the new convertible top. This imposing and immaculate interior retains its original inlaid mother-of-pearl detailing. Offering elegant accommodation for two and breathtaking performance, this rare and stylish 540 K convertible represents the very best that was on sale in the late XNUMXs and is a fine example of this classic German model.
