Pick Of The Day: 1938 Mercedes-benz 540k

As I have been on a bit of a Concours d’Elegance tour over the last several weeks, I thought it would be appropriate to choose a Pick of the Day that would likely win Best of Show if entered in a regional concours and be in the running for at least a Class win at events like Pebble Beach and Amelia. The car I selected is literally an automotive masterpiece: a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet Series A with coachwork by Sindelfingen. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St. Louis.

According to the seller, this 540K (chassis number 189391) is a desirable third-series car fitted from new with Sindelfingen’s elegant and desirable Cabriolet A coachwork, and originally delivered without its current side-mounted spares. According to the Daimler-Benz Kommission sheet, the order for this car came via the British Mercedes-Benz distributor in London. The original owner, a Mr. Manson, appears to have taken delivery in Paris; fortunately, it remained in England for the duration of the war, ensuring its survival. The next owner was none other than British actor, writer, filmmaker, and raconteur Sir Peter Ustinov, who acquired the car in 1951.

Next, in July 1953, the 540K came stateside via pioneering American collector Ralph Buckley of Absecon, New Jersey. The following owner was Road & Track magazine publisher/founder John R. Bond. In 1977, Jim Wilson of Hermosa Beach, California, saw the 540K at Bond’s house and decided he had to have it.

During Wilson’s ownership, the 540K was treated to a comprehensive nut-and-bolt mechanical and cosmetic restoration to show-quality standards. Five years later, Wilson exhibited the freshly restored 540K at the 1983 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, taking a well-deserved Third in Class. After a few years, Wilson sold the 540K to Manfredo Lippmann of Guatemala, an avid collector of supercharged prewar Mercedes-Benz cars.

Today, this 540K is a well-presented car in excellent overall condition with a nicely preserved restoration. It is finished in a lovely shade of Claret, complemented by chrome wire wheels and a recently restored black canvas top. It remains appealing and attractive, with at best a very light patina. During the car’s life, someone modified the original skirted front fenders to accommodate dual side-mounted spare wheels. The rounded tail gives the car a decidedly sporting appearance, befitting the powerful 5.4-liter supercharged inline-eight under the long bonnet. According to marque experts, 189391 retains original details (such as the body number suffix “205” stamped into the bonnet hinge), and the chassis- and engine-number stampings are original and correspond with production records. It would undoubtedly make a most enjoyable and exciting 540K to drive and enjoy following some servicing.

This is unquestionably the sharp end of the collector car hobby, but it also represents an entry point into that world. With an asking price of $1,295,000, it certainly is expensive yet, within the realm of 500 Series Mercedes-Benz automobiles, it represents a considerable amount of car for the money. If it fits within your budget, this 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K offers a straightforward path into the upper levels of the prewar Mercedes world. It is a car that would be welcome on the concours circuit and is certainly capable of being a contender for awards.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com