The supercharged Mercedes-Benz 540k is one of the world’s most collectible cars—especially the rakish two-door roadster with bodywork by the Sindelfingen factory. Only about 400 were produced between 1936 and 1940. Last year, a roadster was sold by RM Sotheby’s in Scottsdale for $9.9 million. On the other hand, the extraordinary 1940 Mercedes 540K Cabriolet A replica now offered on eBay Motors has a Buy-It-Now price of $40,000.
The three-pointed star for the trunk is already in place.
“This is one of the most beautiful convertibles that Mercedes-Benz produced,” said the owner, who is based in Poland. “I made it myself on a frame from the Mercedes Adenauer, which has a complete suspension and rear bridge.” The seller hand-formed his 540k body to a high standard, leaving the finishing work to the next owner. The car has a top frame and lights, but no other visible trim or accessories. As shown in the eBay Motors listing, it’s without an engine or an interior.
The seller’s metalwork is expertly done, but those top bows need a top.
The Adenauer (codenamed W186) was Mercedes’s 300 limousine model in the 1950s, so named because German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was fond of them while he was in office. He owned six in hardtop and cabriolet forms. There’s a 1952 Mercedes 300 convertible Adenauer, available for $247,700, also listed now on eBay Motors.
The chassis for the replica came from the 300, seen here in a model also available on eBay Motors.
The big and imposing separate-chassis Adenauer is the perfect base for a recreation of the 540k. The original employed a 5.4-liter straight eight with two updraft carbs, producing 115 horsepower. The Roots supercharger, which pushed the car to 180 horsepower, hit full song when the driver floored the gas pedal (or it could be activated manually). Top speed was 110 miles per hour—pretty heady stuff for the 1930s.
The 540k special roadster in all its streamlined, supercharged glory. One recently fetched nearly $10 million.
The original 540ks are absolutely gorgeous (although likely a handful in modern traffic). And they’re at the pinnacle of collector car values. 540k parts can be a challenge to find, but the later 300 Adenauer is well-supplied by eBay Motors. People love the 540k design. The nifty hand-built copy available on eBay Motors could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the right builder to play with his or her own $10 million 540k (or, at the least, a vehicle that looks a whole lot like one.)
