|
|
|
|
30/12/2011, 17:46
Story And Images By MURRAY HUBBARD
|
|
|
Watch just about any WW2 documentary with Berlin parade footage and you will probably see an impressive German convertible containing senior members of the Third Reich. In most cases that car will be a Mercedes-Benz 540K. Around 12 of these vehicles were special cars developed on an extended chassis for the Nazi elite as six-seater convertible saloons.
Our featured 540K is a 1936 model 540K Cabriolet C, one of only 122 Cabriolet Cs out of a total production of around 420 Mercedes-Benz 540Ks. This is the only one of its type in Australia and according to owner, George Hetrel of Melbourne, has links to the Nazi regime and was once owned by a prominent member of the Third Reich.
The car was a stand out at this year’s RACV Motorclassica held at Melbourne’s elegant Exhibition Buildings attracting a huge amount of attention. As our images show that attention was with good reason. It is simply a magnificent European supercar from the pre-war era and a rare sight to see in the flesh in Australia. At the time it was built this was the premier Mercedes-Benz vehicle and one of the fastest production cars in the world.
The Mercedes-Benz 540K had its debut at the 1936 Paris Motor Show, an upgrade of the 500K, a car that was itself and upgrade of the SSK. The 540K came as a stunning two seater cabriolet, four seater coupe/cabriolet or seven seater limousine with armour fitted. These cars were constructed with extraordinary eye for detail. The paintwork was exquisite, they used only the best leather and timber and the metal parts polished to a mirror-like finish. This 540K gives a good idea to how the cars were presented.
Despite similarities with the 500K the 540K had some major differences. Both cars shared a similar chassis layout, but the 540K was much lighter with the use of oval-section tubes replacing the typical girder style frame of the 500K. Then, like now, motor sport played a part in technology filtering across the road cars and the oval-section tubes were first used by Mercedes-Benz in the Silver Arrows race cars.
The straight-eight engine from the 500K was developed to 5401cc (329.6 cubic inches) with twin pressurised updraft carburettors supplying fuel. In this guise the 540K developed 86 kW of power. Also lurking under the bonnet was an attached Roots supercharger. To bring the supercharger into play the driver could either manually engage it or simply flatten the right foot and it would engage automatically. This system had similarities to the Ferdinand Porsche designed S, SS and SSK cars that helped establish the Mercedes-Benz racing credentials during the 1920s.
The boost from the Kompressor was significant and kWs soared to 130 while top speed went to 170 km/h. The 540K came standard with a four speed manual gearbox, but a five speed manual was optional. Like most cars of this era the 540K was rear wheel drive. Stopping power was provided via vacuum-assisted hydraulic drum brakes.
Mercedes engineer Gustav Rohr designed the 540K cars at the same time he worked on Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix racers. The 540K had a longer wheelbase than the 500K that extended the bonnet and facilitated a new V-shaped grille.
The styling of the 540K - in particular the profile and the front - place this vehicle as one of the finest marques to ever come out of Europe, let alone the Mercedes factory at Karrosserie Sindelfingen. Some 1500 people worked on the 540K during production which enabled the car to be tailor made to each owners specifications. Of the small production run only 70 rolling chassis were produced for other coachbuilders. It is a tribute to the RACV sponsored Motorclassica and it organisers that it is able to attract cars of this standard to be shown to a wider audience than would otherwise be possible.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: In-line supercharged eight cylinder
Capacity: 5401cc (329.6 cubic inch)
Bore/stroke: 88mm X 111mm
Compression: 6.5:1
Power: 134.2 kW at 3400 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual (optional five speed)
Chassis: Pressed steel
Brakes: hydraulic drums all-round
Wheels: 17 inch
Suspension: F/double wishbones with coil springs
R/Swing axle with trailing arms/double coil springs
Weight: 2240 kg
Length: 5100mm
Width:1800mm
Height: 1530mm
Wheelbase: 3290mm
PERFORMANCE
Top speed: 170 km/h |
|
|
|
|
|
Print Article
Submit Feedback
Email This Article
