Mercedes-Benz 540 K Offered From 50 Years of Family Ownership set for RM Sotheby’s Arizona Sale


1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Coupe s_n 154143

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Coupe s_n 154143

 

BLENHEIM, Ontario, 15 December, 2019

RM Sotheby’s has announced additional featured entries for the auction house’s 21st annual Arizona sale, set for 16-17 January at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. The latest list of cars is led by a fascinating 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Coupe, chassis no. 154143, which has remained in the same family’s care since 1969.

Ordered new in 1937 by Brabender GmbH in Duisburg, Germany – a company that still exists today – the 540 K was delivered as a Cabriolet A with the striking coupe roof added in period by coachbuilder Hebmüller. It is believed to be the only such 540 K converted by the German coachbuilder. Evident from a first look at the car, it wears desirable and unique coachwork, with a set-back radiator that adds to its sleek design. The 540 K remained in Europe for several decades, eventually appearing at auction in Denver in 1969, from which the current owner’s father purchased the Mercedes-Benz and drove it home to Nebraska, where it has remained ever since.

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The car’s long-term owner enjoyed taking it out for dinner and to the local lake in the summertime over the next few years. It last left the garage in the early 1970s to compete in a local car show, where it shockingly lost Best of Show to a freshly restored John Deere tractor. Distraught by the upset, the owner vowed never to show the car again and parked it in his two-car garage for the next forty-some years. With its whereabouts having been largely unknown, the 540 K is now available for the first time since 1969 and is offered in Arizona retaining its original chassis and drivetrain, complete with covered rear spare, and chrome wire wheels.

The car has been recommissioned by RM Auto Restoration and is in running and driving order. One of the most exciting and interesting garage-finds in recent memory, the 540 K is the ideal candidate for a full restoration and modern concours debut (Est. $1,000,000 - $1,500,000).

It’s always exciting when we can bring a car with such a great story and family ownership fresh to the market,” comments Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s. “We’ve had the opportunity to sell several significant examples of the 540 K at auction over the years, including at Arizona, but this car must be the most interesting. The 540 K Coupe is amazing to look at, and the fact that it is a highly significant model that has been hiding in a family garage for the last 50 years makes it that much more intriguing. Given it hasn’t been shown in decades, it presents a vast amount of collector car event opportunities for its new owner.”

Additional significant Mercedes-Benz icons set for RM Sotheby’s Arizona stage include a pair of 300 SLs:

·         A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, chassis no. 198.040.5500594, a spectacular example in Silver Grey over deep blue leather, beautifully restored by marque specialists in 2013 and retaining its original matching-numbers engine. The car is equipped with highly desirable Rudge wheels and belly pans, and is offered with both leather and plaid cloth interiors, alongside fitted luggage (Est. $1,150,000 - $1,300,000);

·         A highly original 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis no. 198.042.7500555, offered from just private two owners from new, including an incredible 50 years with the original family. Presented in its gorgeous original Strawberry Red Metallic color over a tan leather interior, the roadster is complete with its original hard top, books, tool kit, jack, and shows just 25,600 original miles (Est. $950,000 - $1,150,000).


Consolidated Scottsdale Auction Lots ... sorted by Estimate
 

 

Related Material

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Lot List
 

Lot

Description

S/N

Estimate ($)

Result

104

1949 Harley-Davidson Police Servi-Car

49G2497

$30,000 - 40,000

 

105

1938 Cadillac Series 75

3271507

$50,000 - 70,000

 

106

1941 Lincoln Continental

H 119081

$35,000 - 45,000

 

107

1925 Duesenberg Model A

1078

$125,000 - 175,000

 

108

1973 Citroën SM

00SD0822

$50,000 - 70,000

 

109

1980 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Soft-Top

FJ40-313213

$60,000 - 80,000

 

110

1947 Ford Super DeLuxe Station Wagon

799A-2002745

$70,000 - 90,000

 

111

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

VC55A064756

$70,000 - 80,000

 

112

1960 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet

128.030.10.
003553

$120,000 - 140,000

 

113

1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II

B382100269
 LRXFE

$100,000 - 150,000

 

114

1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 427/450 Convertible

194676S
102228

$125,000 - 175,000

 

115

1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

04268

$325,000 - 375,000

 

116

2019 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet Exclusive Series

WP0CD2A94KS
144636

$300,000 - 350,000

 

117

1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster

674160

$100,000 - 125,000

 

119

1931 Cadillac V-16 Seven-Passenger Imperial

703108

$100,000 - 150,000

 

120

1933 Cadillac V-16 All-Weather Phaeton

5000082

$300,000 - 350,000

 

121

1936 Cadillac V-16 Town Sedan

51-221

$250,000 - 300,000

 

122

1935 Cadillac V-16 Imperial Convertible Sedan

51-143

$600,000 - 750,000

 

123

1932 Cadillac V-16 Five-Passenger Sedan

1400238

$175,000 - 225,000

 

124

1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton

7-2597

$900,000 - 1,200,000

 

125

1939 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe

5290069

$225,000 - 275,000

 

126

1935 Cadillac V-12 Two-Passenger Coupe

4100743

$175,000 - 225,000

 

127

1983 Lamborghini Countach LP500

ZA9C00500CLA
12548

$250,000 - 300,000

 

128

1987 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe

WP0JB0935HS
051263

$180,000 - 220,000

 

129

1931 Cadillac V-12 Convertible Coupe

1003102

$225,000 - 275,000

 

130

1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL “Pagoda”

113.044.12.
014788

$70,000 - 90,000

 

131

1914 Chalmers Model 24 Touring

24A762P

$80,000 - 110,000

 

132

1956 Jaguar D-Type Replica

1D 50661 BW

$200,000 - 240,000

 

133

2019 McLaren Senna

SBM15ACA5KW
800087

$1,100,000 - 1,250,000

 

134

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Z06 'Big Tank' Split-Window Coupe

30837S114083

$500,000 - 600,000

 

135

1961 Sunbeam Harrington Alpine NART Coupe

B9106097

$130,000 - 160,000

 

136

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi

49803

$325,000 - 375,000

 

137

1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8-Litre Roadster

875274

$225,000 - 275,000

 

138

1925 Hispano-Suiza H6B Transformable

11093

$375,000 - 425,000

 

139

1987 Ferrari Testarossa

68663

$95,000 - 115,000

 

140

1954 Ferrari 250 Europa GT

0377GT

$1,500,000 - 1,700,000

 

141

1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BT7

H-BT7-L/19072

$60,000 - 75,000

 

142

1941 Lincoln Zephyr

H 126488

$60,000 - 80,000

 

143

1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton

812 31851 H

$225,000 - 275,000

 

144

1989 Porsche 911 Turbo 'Flat Nose' Cabriolet

WP0EB0934KS
070508

$275,000 - 325,000

 

145

2014 Ferrari 458 Italia

3238

$200,000 - 250,000

 

146

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4

14239

$475,000 - 575,000

 

147

2018 Pagani Huayra Roadster

ZA9H12UA7JSF
76049

$2,500,000 - 2,700,000

 

148

1993 Ferrari 512 TR

95077

$200,000 - 250,000

 

149

1941 Packard Custom 8

1429-2016

$325,000 - 375,000

 

150

2000 Bentley Continental R Mulliner

SCBZB25E6YCX
63316

$150,000 - 200,000

 

151

1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2 2 Series II

3547GT

$400,000 - 500,000

 

152

1965 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C

07241

$1,800,000 - 2,200,000

 

153

2017 Ferrari 488 Spider 70th Anniversary

226129

$350,000 - 400,000

 

154

1969 Plymouth Road Runner

RM23H9G285668

$150,000 - 180,000

 

155

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

198.040.55
00594

$1,150,000 - 1,300,000

 

156

1927 Locomobile Model 90 Sportif

33464

$75,000 - 100,000

 

157

1947 Chrysler Town and Country Sedan

71000774

$90,000 - 110,000

 

158

1953 Buick Roadmaster

16826421

$90,000 - 120,000

 

159

1954 Buick Skylark

7A1061285

$100,000 - 130,000

 

160

1956 Buick Roadmaster Riviera

7C4054384

$40,000 - 60,000

 

161

1959 Buick Electra 225

8F2007249

$70,000 - 90,000

 

162

1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Sport Coupe

446370H264513

$40,000 - 50,000

 

163

1956 Continental Mark II

C56F3054

$90,000 - 110,000

 

164

2005 Porsche Carrera GT

WP0CA29805L
001301

$750,000 - 850,000

 

165

1972 Porsche 911 T Coupe

9112102356

$100,000 - 125,000

 

166

1937 MG SA Saloon

SA 2248

$80,000 - 100,000

 

167

1935 Packard Twelve

827-218

$150,000 - 180,000

 

168

1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2-Litre Roadster

1R 13792

$110,000 - 140,000

 

169

1929 Auburn 120 Eight Cabriolet

2951507

$110,000 - 140,000

 

170

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

VC57J174887

$80,000 - 100,000

 

171

2017 Ferrari F12berlinetta

226891

$400,000 - 450,000

 

172

1974 BMW 3.0 CS

4310004

$80,000 - 100,000

 

173

1991 Alfa Romeo SZ

ZAR16200003
000440

$80,000 - 100,000

 

174

1929 Packard Custom 8

169785

$75,000 - 110,000

 

175

2007 Ford Shelby GT500

1ZVHT8955344226

$75,000 - 100,000

 

176

1965 Buick Riviera

494475H926481

$40,000 - 60,000

 

177

1956 Ford Thunderbird

P6FH352869

$35,000 - 45,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

203

1963 Chevrolet Impala

31839J126334

$30,000 - 40,000

 

204

1986 Bertone X1/9

ZBBBS00A6G
7157651

$15,000 - 20,000

 

205

1949 Kaiser Vagabond

K-492-038169

$20,000 - 30,000

 

206

1986 Zimmer Quicksilver

1G2PF3790GP
242215

$40,000 - 50,000

 

207

2010 Chevrolet Callaway Corvette SC606

1G1YX3DW2A
5106882

$40,000 - 60,000

 

208

1991 Lotus Elan

SCCGA36B1MHF
28127

$30,000 - 40,000

 

209

1982 DeLorean DMC-12

SCEDT26T5CD
010905

$40,000 - 50,000

 

210

2002 Dodge Viper GTS

1B3ER69EX2V
102961

$60,000 - 80,000

 

211

1968 Fiat Dino Spider

135AS 0001100

$100,000 - 150,000

 

212

1996 Chevrolet Corvette

1G1YY2251T
5600364

$40,000 - 60,000

 

213

1991 Vector W8 Twin Turbo

1V9VW2629MW
048009

$300,000 - 450,000

 

214

1990 GT Developments GTD40

GTD40 07290

$120,000 - 150,000

 

215

1999 Panoz AIV Roadster

1P9PA1829XB
213024

$60,000 - 80,000

 

216

1988 Chevrolet Callaway Corvette Twin Turbo Convertible

1G1YY318XJ
5102534

$75,000 - 100,000

 

217

1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal

AR 1425442

$100,000 - 130,000

 

218

1967 Maserati Mistral Spyder

AM109/SA1 665

$450,000 - 550,000

 

219

1973 Maserati Bora

AM117/49 500

$160,000 - 200,000

 

220

1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV

4974 / 683

$1,400,000 - 1,600,000

 

221

1979 Porsche 911 Turbo

9309801187

$350,000 - 400,000

 

222

1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale

ZLA831AB
000576058

$150,000 - 180,000

 

223

2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S Endurance Racing Edition

WP0AB2A98HS
123312

$150,000 - 175,000

 

224

1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk IA

B382002093
LRXFE

$80,000 - 100,000

 

225

1963 Chevrolet Corvette

30837S106704

$140,000 - 180,000

 

226

1953 Porsche 356 Coupe

50790

$125,000 - 150,000

 

227

1936 Ford Roadster Custom

AZ347961

$125,000 - 175,000

 

228

1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV

S449MR

$150,000 - 200,000

 

229

1963 Shelby 260 Cobra

CSX 2047

$650,000 - 750,000

 

230

1966 Lamborghini 400 GT 'Interim

0463

$575,000 - 650,000

 

231

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II

AM300/1114

$180,000 - 220,000

 

232

1962 Porsche 356 B 1600 'Twin Grille' Roadster

89621

$275,000 - 325,000

 

233

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc 'Sunroof' Coupe

188.014.65.
00070

$275,000 - 325,000

 

234

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Coupe

154143

$1,000,000 - 1,500,000

 

235

1967 Shelby GT500

Z67400F5A
03114

$150,000 - 200,000

 

236

1976 Porsche 914 2.0

4762903888

$60,000 - 70,000

 

237

2008 Bugatti Veyron

VF9SA25C78M
795066

$950,000 - 1,100,000

 

238

2005 Morgan Aero

SA9AR281550J
00345

$125,000 - 150,000

 

239

1999 Shelby Series 1 Prototype

CSX 50X4

$120,000 - 150,000

 

240

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A

209707

$550,000 - 650,000

 

241

1968 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder

50031

$150,000 - 180,000

 

242

1967 Ferrari 330 GTS

9781

$1,800,000 - 2,200,000

 

243

1961 Porsche 356 B 1600S Super

154048

$125,000 - 160,000

 

244

2008 Bentley Azure

SCBDC47L28CX
12801

$75,000 - 100,000

 

245

2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso 70th Anniversary

229194

$375,000 - 475,000

 

246

2017 Ford GT

2FAGP9CW8HH
200040

$750,000 - 1,000,000

 

247

1948 Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe Station Wagon

2341564

$200,000 - $265,000

 

248

1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre Roadster

1E 13321

$225,000 - 275,000

 

249

1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

9449

$500,000 - 600,000

 

250

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

1495F 07553

$100,000 - 125,000

 

251

1956 Continental Mark II

C56C2305

$60,000 - 100,000

 

252

1946 Hudson Series 58 Carrier Six ¾-Ton Pickup

3850185

$40,000 - 50,000

 

253

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet PF Series I

0913GT

$6,000,000 - 7,000,000

 

254

1966 Shelby GT350

SFM 6S1518

$150,000 - 180,000

 

255

1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

07898

$300,000 - 350,000

 

256

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

198.042.75
00555

$950,000 - 1,150,000

 

257

1979 Ferrari 512 BB Custom

28981

$225,000 - 275,000

 

258

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

WDDAK76F09M
001924

$300,000 - 350,000

 

259

1958 Porsche 356 A 1600 S Cabriolet

150730

$175,000 - 200,000

 

260

1972 Maserati Ghibli SS 4.9 Coupe

AM115/49 2372

$275,000 - 325,000

 

261

1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3

109.018.12.
004819

$75,000 - 125,000

 

262

2003 Ferrari 575M Maranello

133408

$100,000 - 120,000

 

263

1960 Facel Vega HK500

HK1 BS2X

$225,000 - 275,000

 

264

1987 Porsche 911 Turbo 'Flat Nose' Cabriolet

WP0EB0937HS
070141

$150,000 - 200,000

 

265

1971 Ford Bronco Custom

U14FLK28162

$70,000 - 90,000

 

266

1953 Spartan Spartanette Tandem 131

31-53-A208

$75,000 - 125,000

 

267

2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

138987

$100,000 - 125,000

 

268

1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III (BJ8)

H-BJ8-L/36920

$70,000 - 90,000

 

269

1966 Maserati Mexico 4.7 Coupe

AM112/1 026

$125,000 - 175,000

 

270

1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2-Litre Fixed Head Coupe

P1R 28035

$75,000 - 100,000

 

271

1956 Austin-Healey 100/4 (BN2)

BN2-L/232735

$75,000 - 100,000

 

272

1978 Lotus Esprit SE

78010621H

$50,000 - 70,000

 

273

1941 Ford V-8 Super DeLuxe Station Wagon

18-6325382

$65,000 - 85,000