The 540K is an excellent example of the use of aerodynamics during the 1930’s. Although a buyer could commission a custom body from a number of prominent coach-builders for these exclusive and expensive automobiles, the buyer of this car chose to have Mercedes’ own in-house styling department, Sindelfingen Body Werks, create the elegant coachwork seen here. It is a rare car indeed with cabriolet coachwork attached to a short wheelbase chassis. Mercedes Benz built only five of them and only three survive today. This car was originally delivered November 6, 1939, to Erhard Milch, Secretary for Air and Inspector General of the Luftwaffe – both posts were later combined into that of Reichminister under Hermann Goering. Powered by a 5.4 liter straight-eight supercharged engine, the car weighs in at a svelte 5,511 pounds, has a top speed of 106 mph, and gets about 8 miles per gallon on high octane fuel.
You may purchase a print in our dElegance 2010 online gallery.