$9.9 Million buys you a piece of Mercedes-Benz’s rarified history

By Miles Branman February 1, 2016

When the bidding for a vehicle kicks off at $5 million, you know you’re witnessing a rather unique transaction.

That was the stage set at this year’s Arizona Biltmore auction in Phoenix when a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster rolled onto the block. Minutes later, the new owner had agreed to pay $9.9 million for the pre-WWII-era model.

Besides the fact that this automotive gem is in extraordinarily good condition, Chassis number 130894 is considered to be one of the earliest production models of the 540 K to have endured 79 years, and more spectacular still is the fact that this specific model was pre-production.

With only 10,227 miles under its belt, a full history of vehicle care, and all-original drivetrain components (including the engine number), the automotive world deems this roadster a treasure.

Under the chrome-laden bonnet rests a 5.4-liter eight-cylinder engine with a manual Roots-style supercharger to boost output from 115 horsepower to 180. That power is routed via a four-speed manual transmission. The up-to-the-minute braking system includes four-wheel servo-assisted hydraulic drum brakes while driving body movement iss managed via an independent wishbone front coil suspension and independent swing-arm rear suspension.

Obviously the poster boy of the auction, the Mercedes-Benz roadster contributed a good portion to the total $62.8 million in sales from the event. Buyers from 20 countries took home other rare vehicles like a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Torpedo Convertible Coupe (whose fanciful name is not only extensive, but also contradictory, for $3 million), a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV ($2 million), and a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder ($1.59 million).

Here’s to hoping that hot-rod red Mercedes roadster isn’t tucked away in some wealthy individual’s garage for another eight decades, but is rather enjoyed and loved like one of the family.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…

Cars

Mercedes EV charging hubs are coming to North America by the end of the decade

What a future Mercedes-Benz EV charging hub might look like.

You can't have more electric cars without more charging stations, so Mercedes-Benz is building a global charging network covering North America, China, Europe, and other major markets to support its goal of going all-electric by the end of the decade where market conditions allow.

Announced at CES 2023, the network should be in place by the end of the decade in line with Mercedes' electrification goal. It's a bold move by the automaker, which has mostly relied on third-party charging networks until now.

Cars

5 stunning electric SUVs that prove you don’t need to spend $100K for luxury

Front three quarter view of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

There’s no denying it — the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ SUV is an incredible car. Sure, the exterior design isn’t for me, and the bulbous nose, while not as bad as on the standard EQS, proves that many carmakers still have no idea what to do with a grille-less design. But sit inside the car and you’re greeted with stunning finishes, beautiful build quality, modern tech, and a super-comfortable ride.

I’ve spent a week testing the EQS 450+ SUV and loved almost everything about it. It has plenty of oomph when you hit the accelerator, and while the suspension is a little mushy, it feels like you’re driving a cloud.

Cars

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV preview: The EV lineup grows again

Front three quarter view of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.

As Mercedes-Benz has steadily expanded its EQ range of electric cars, the lineup has become a bit like the late stages of a Tetris game. It’s mostly complete, but with a few gaps still left. And the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is the piece that perfectly fits one of them.
Mercedes recently launched two other electric SUVs at opposite ends of the price spectrum. The EQS SUV is positioned as the lineup’s flagship, while the EQB is the entry-level model. The EQE SUV slots between those two in size and, presumably, price. The latter hasn’t been confirmed yet, and likely won’t be until the EQE SUV’s planned March 2023 on-sale date.

Design
As the name says, the EQE SUV is a utility-vehicle version of the EQE sedan, which will likely beat it to showrooms by a few months. Mercedes did the same thing with the EQS, which is available in both SUV and sedan body styles.
With its tall, upright profile, the EQE SUV definitely looks like a proper SUV compared to the low-slung EQE sedan. Park it next to an EQS SUV, though, and you’ll have to get out a measuring tape to spot the differences.
The EQE SUV is 0.6 inch narrower and 1.2 inches lower than the EQS SUV, but the most significant difference is in length. The EQE SUV is 10.3 inches shorter than the EQS SUV, with a 2.1-inch shorter wheelbase. And while the EQS SUV has three-row seating, the EQE SUV has two rows. Based on our experience with the EQS SUV’s third row, that’s not a big loss.
The interior design theme carries over from other Mercedes EQ models, with an expansive sloping dashboard designed to accommodate many screens, and multicolor ambient lighting that should look pretty dramatic at night. However, leatherette upholstery is standard, rather than real leather, which Mercedes is now spinning as a vegan option.