Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster

Mercedes-Benz 540K (type W24) is a car built by the German firm Mercedes-Benz from 1935 to 1940. Available as a two-seater cabriolet, four seater coupé or seven seater limousine with armoured sides and armoured glass, it was one of the largest cars of it's time. The straight-8 cylinder engine was 5,401 cubic centimetres (329.6 cu in).

The engine was fed by twin pressurized updraft carburetors, developing 115 hp. A Roots supercharger, which could either be engaged manually for short periods, or automatically when the accelerator was pushed fully to the floor.

Power was sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed or optional five speed manual gearbox that featured synchromesh on the top three gears. Mercedes-Benz built only 419 cars: 32 examples were roadsters. 25 Roadsters survived to this day

The world record price for a 540K Spezial Roadster is $11,770,000, by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2012 for the Spezial Roadster of Baroness Gisela von Krieger of Prussia.

Four 540K Spezial Roadsters pictured are all in the top 100 most expensive cars ever sold at auction. From top left clockwise, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster which fetched US$9,680,000, the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster which fetched US$7,480,000, the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster which fetched US$4,620,000 and the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster which fetched US$8,106,150.