1939 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster

1939 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster
Chassis no. 408383
Engine no. 408383
Body no. 200641
Order Number 317029
115/180 bhp, 5,410 cc supercharged OHV inline eight-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent coil-spring suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 129.5 in.

•A fully one-off, owner-commissioned 540K Special Roadster
•Built for the Horn brothers of Berlin
•Formerly the property of Alf Johansson and the Lyon Family Collection
•Features original mileage
•All matching numbers, including original and rare five-speed transmission
•Freshly restored Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance award winner
Mercedes-Benz's success with the 500K was aided by the continuing defaults of its sporting luxury competitors as the Great Depression worked its way through the ranks of society, politics, royalty, and finance. In 1936, the company followed up on that success with the 540K. Regarded by many and respected by all as the high point of the Classic Era among German automobiles, the 540K reflected the restless pursuit of perfection by Mercedes-Benz's engineers, technicians, and craftsmen, and by the coachbuilders of the Sindelfingen Werke.

The ultimate 540K was the Special Roadster. Constructed on a nearly 130-inch wheelbase chassis and stretching over 17.5 feet in overall length, it was a massive automobile in which to accommodate only two passengers. Yet, that awe-inspiring blend of cost-be-cursed size, performance, and style is what gave it a commanding presence that remains palpable in any surroundings. Better still, Hermann Ahrens and the Sindelfingen designers succeeded in so skillfully blending the car's styling elements that its overall proportions are harmonious. Subtle, bright accents complement and outline the body elements, punctuated by functional and stylish details that draw the eye and mitigate the effect of the car's size.

The Special Roadster's imposing visage was matched by equally impressive performance. A stiff frame and fully independent suspension supported its two-ton mass effortlessly, soaking up irregularities in highways and, at its best, showing the 540K's relaxed 85 mph cruising speed on the Autobahn. Mercedes-Benz fitted a camber compensator spring to the 540K, to offset the swing axle independent rear suspension's tendency to sudden camber changes, and the resulting driving experience is balanced and satisfying. The Special Roadster was no sports car; instead, it was the original grand tourer, a car in which two people could cover vast distances of good highways in comfort at an outstanding clip.

Of the 419 chassis delivered during the 540K's production life, from 1935 to 1939, only 25 were Special Roadsters. Few of those were one-off designs, and fewer still were built on the most desirable later chassis, as, by 1939, most of Europe was being drawn into growing darkness. Fortunately, the Horn brothers of Berlin could still see the light.

THE HORN BROTHERS' SPECIAL ROADSTER

Chassis number 408383 was completed for the brothers, proprietors of one of the city's most exclusive boutiques, in August of 1939. As a late 540K, it was equipped with the five-speed transmission with overdrive fifth gear that was introduced that year, and it may well have been the final Special Roadster built.

It is believed that Rolf Horn, one of the brothers, had a major influence in the conception and design of the car, which was not surprising, as he was a man who regularly dealt in beautiful art. While the automobile retains the 540K Special Roadster's traditional chassis layout, with a raked vee'd radiator set back between the front fenders, a long hood, and cut-down doors, it features unique front and rear fenders, which are of a nearly teardrop shape and fully skirted.

The sweeping running boards, characteristic of early Special Roadsters, were eliminated in favor of small frame covers. The low doors have roll-up windows and rise abruptly past the hinges to a hard boot cover over the folded top, which gives the rear deck a smooth, aerodynamic surface and taper. While the windshield is a single piece, it is sharply raked to fall in line with the cowl, and it can be opened for ventilation. Most notably, a slim chrome beltline traces the hood break and then sweeps downward, paralleling the door tops before tapering to a fine point at the rear fenders.

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Robert Myrick Photography