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Mercedes-Benz 540K

October 31, 2023

The Mercedes-Benz 540K (W29) is a car built by the German firm Mercedes-Benz from 1936 to 1940.

Mercedes-Benz 540K
1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster
Overview
ManufacturerMercedes-Benz
Production1936–1940 (chassis -- last bodies completed in 1944)
AssemblyUntertürkheim factory, Sindelfingen, Germany
DesignerFriedrich Geiger
Body and chassis
Body styletwo seater cabriolet
four seater coupé
seven seater limousine
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine5,401 cc straight-8
Transmission4-speed or on late cars optional 5-speed manual[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,980 mm (117.3 in) (SWB)
3,290 mm (129.5 in) (Normal)
3,880 mm (152.8 in) (Special)
Curb weightUp to 2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorMercedes-Benz 500K
SuccessorMercedes-Benz 580K (Prototype only) [2]

History edit

Introduced at the 1936 Paris Motor Show, the Friedrich Geiger designed car was a development of the 500K, itself a development of the SSK. Available as a both a two- and four-seat cabriolet, four seater coupé or seven seater limousine (with armoured sides and armoured glass), it was one of the largest cars of its time.

It retailed for 28,000 RM[3] (approximately $230,000 in 2021) in 1936.

The straight-8 cylinder engine of the 500K was enlarged in displacement to 5,401 cubic centimetres (329.6 cu in).[4] It was fed by twin pressurized updraft carburetors, developing 115 hp (86 kW). In addition, there was an attached Roots supercharger, which could either be engaged manually for short periods, or automatically when the accelerator was pushed fully to the floor.[4] This increased power to 180 hp (130 kW), enabling a top speed of 170 kilometres per hour (110 mph).[5]

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. Vacuum-assisted hydraulic brakes kept the car under the driver's control.

The 540K had the same chassis layout as the 500K, but it was significantly lightened by replacing the girder-like frame of the 500K with oval-section tubes - an influence of the Silver Arrows racing campaign.[2]

To meet individual wishes of customers, three chassis variants were available, as for the 500K: two long versions with a 3,290 mm (130 in) wheelbase, differing in terms of powertrain and bodywork layout; and a short version with 2,980 mm (117 in). The long variant, termed the normal chassis with the radiator directly above the front axle, served as the backbone for the four-seater cabriolets, the 'B' (with four side windows) and 'C' (with two side windows), and for touring cars and saloons. The shorter chassis was for the two-seater cabriolet 'A', set up on a chassis on which radiator, engine, cockpit and all rearward modules[clarification needed] were moved 185 mm (7.3 in) back from the front axle.[6]

As usual with Mercedes cars of this period the Sindelfingen factory provided in-house coach work, and employed 1,500 people to create the 540K, thus allowing for a great deal of owner customisation, meaning only 70 chassis were ever bodied by independent builders.[5] Owners included Jack L. Warner of Warner Brothers film studios.[7]

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the proposed further boring-out of the engine to 5,800 cubic centimetres (5.8 L) for a 580K was aborted, probably after only one such car was made.[2] Chassis production ceased in 1940, with the final 2 being completed that year, and earlier chassis were still being bodied at a steady rate during 1940, with smaller numbers being completed in the 1941–1943 period. Regular replacement bodies were ordered in 1944 for a few cars.[8][9]

Special saloon (W24) edit

 
Mercedes-Benz 540K (W24)

On top of the normal and roadster cars, 12 special cars were developed on an extended chassis length with a 3,880 mm (153 in) wheelbase. All of these cars were developed for the Nazi hierarchy, as six seater convertible saloons. To allow for armour plate, these cars had developed De Dion rear suspension. Due to their higher weight, their maximum speed was 140 km/h (87 mph).

After the assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich in Prague at the end of May 1942, the Reich Chancellery would only use armoured cars for ministers and leaders of friendly powers. Beside 20 large Mercedes-Benz 770s, in 1942 they ordered an additional 20 540Ks developed as two door armoured saloons. These were delivered during 1942 and 1943. A further order for 17 armoured saloons was placed in late 1943, and these were delivered in April 1944. One of these cars was given as a gift from Adolf Hitler to Ante Pavelić, leader of the Independent State of Croatia. After the war, this car was captured and used first by Ivan Krajacic, and then by Josip Broz Tito.

Hermann Goering's "Blue Goose" edit

In 1936, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 540K special, designated 540Ks. Based on the shorter 2,980 mm (117 in) wheelbase chassis, its body was carefully crafted. Its price tag of 28,000 Reichsmarks, some RM6,000 above the price of standard models, meant only 32 were ever built.[6]

In 1937, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering ordered a 540Ks, in his favourite colour of "Luftwaffe" blue with his family crest on both doors. It included armour-plated sides and bulletproof glass. Nicknamed the "Blue Goose", Goering was often photographed in the car.[6][7]

On May 4, 1945, the US Army, C Company, 326th Engineers, 101st Airborne Division 'Screaming Eagles' entered Berchtesgaden, and on finding the car took possession. Major General Maxwell Taylor used the car as his command vehicle in West Germany until it was commissioned by the US Treasury. Shipped to Washington, D.C., it successfully toured the United States in a victory bond tour.[6] In 1956, the car was auctioned off by the US Army at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland and sold to Jacques Tunick of Greenwich, Connecticut, with a high bid of $2167.[10]

In 1958, Tunick sold the car to the private collection of veterinarian Dr. George Bitgood Jr., who had it repainted in black and the chrome re-plated. Kept private, Bitgood only displayed it once, at the 1973 county fair in Durham, Connecticut. After Bitgood's death, the "Blue Goose" was shown by his family in June 2002 at the 101st Airborne Reunion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The car was then sold to Carnlough International Limited of Guernsey, on the agreement that it be restored to its condition "as found" at Berchtesgaden.[10]

Production figures edit

Of the combined production of the 500K (342 cars) and 540K (419 cars) from Sindelfingen, deliveries were:

  • 70 chassis without body
  • 28 open cars (offener Tourenwagen)
  • 23 saloons with 4 doors (mainly 500K)
  • 29 saloons with 2 doors (mainly 540K)
  • 12 Coupés
  • 6 Autobahn cruisers (Autobahn-kurier)
  • 58 Roadsters
  • 116 Cabriolets A
  • 296 Cabriolets B
  • 122 Cabriolets C

Gallery edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "1934 - The Mercedes 500K is born". Classicdriver.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10.
  2. ^ a b c Brian Sewell (2007-04-12). . The Independent. London. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  3. ^ "1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster". Sports Car Market. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  4. ^ a b Cheetham, Craig (2004). Vintage Cars - The Finest Prewar Automobiles. Rochester, United Kingdom: Grange Books. p. 137. ISBN 1840136359.
  5. ^ a b "Mercedes-Benz 540K". Concept Carz. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  6. ^ a b c d "Mercedes-Benz 540K special". Concept Carz. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  7. ^ a b Jones, Sam (2007-10-31). "World's richest classic car collectors roll up for Ecclestone's garage sale". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  8. ^ "1940 Mercedes Benz W129 580 K Sport Roadster Technical Specs, Dimensions".
  9. ^ "1939 Mercedes-Benz 580 K Sport Roadster W 24 specifications | technical data | performance | fuel economy | emissions | dimensions | horsepower | torque | weight".
  10. ^ a b "The Extraordinary story of Hermann Göring's 540K". Literary Club. Retrieved 2010-01-08.

Bibliography edit

  • Melin, Jan (1985). Mercedes-Benz: The Supercharged 8-Cylinder Cars of the 1930s. Vol. 1. Gothenburg, Sweden: Nordbok International. ISBN 9187036002.
  • —————; Hernström, Sven (2003). Mercedes-Benz: The Supercharged 8-Cylinder Cars of the 1930s. Vol. 2. Sparreholm, Sweden: Gamla Bilsalongen. ISBN 9163144352.
  • Oswald, Werner [in German] (2001). Deutsche Autos [German Cars] (in German). Vol. Band [Volume] 2: 1920–1945. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3613021706.
  • ——————— (2018). Mercedes-Benz Personenwagen 1886-1986 [Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars 1886-1986] (in German). Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 9783613041288.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Mercedes-Benz 540 K at Wikimedia Commons

October 31, 2023
mercedes, benz, 540k, built, german, firm, mercedes, benz, from, 1936, 1940, 1939, special, roadsteroverviewmanufacturermercedes, benzproduction1936, 1940, chassis, last, bodies, completed, 1944, assemblyuntertürkheim, factory, sindelfingen, germanydesignerfri. The Mercedes Benz 540K W29 is a car built by the German firm Mercedes Benz from 1936 to 1940 Mercedes Benz 540K1939 Mercedes Benz 540K Special RoadsterOverviewManufacturerMercedes BenzProduction1936 1940 chassis last bodies completed in 1944 AssemblyUnterturkheim factory Sindelfingen GermanyDesignerFriedrich GeigerBody and chassisBody styletwo seater cabrioletfour seater coupeseven seater limousineLayoutFR layoutPowertrainEngine5 401 cc straight 8Transmission4 speed or on late cars optional 5 speed manual 1 DimensionsWheelbase2 980 mm 117 3 in SWB 3 290 mm 129 5 in Normal 3 880 mm 152 8 in Special Curb weightUp to 2 700 kg 6 000 lb ChronologyPredecessorMercedes Benz 500KSuccessorMercedes Benz 580K Prototype only 2 Contents 1 History 2 Special saloon W24 3 Hermann Goering s Blue Goose 4 Production figures 5 Gallery 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editIntroduced at the 1936 Paris Motor Show the Friedrich Geiger designed car was a development of the 500K itself a development of the SSK Available as a both a two and four seat cabriolet four seater coupe or seven seater limousine with armoured sides and armoured glass it was one of the largest cars of its time It retailed for 28 000 RM 3 approximately 230 000 in 2021 in 1936 The straight 8 cylinder engine of the 500K was enlarged in displacement to 5 401 cubic centimetres 329 6 cu in 4 It was fed by twin pressurized updraft carburetors developing 115 hp 86 kW In addition there was an attached Roots supercharger which could either be engaged manually for short periods or automatically when the accelerator was pushed fully to the floor 4 This increased power to 180 hp 130 kW enabling a top speed of 170 kilometres per hour 110 mph 5 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 Vacuum assisted hydraulic brakes kept the car under the driver s control The 540K had the same chassis layout as the 500K but it was significantly lightened by replacing the girder like frame of the 500K with oval section tubes an influence of the Silver Arrows racing campaign 2 To meet individual wishes of customers three chassis variants were available as for the 500K two long versions with a 3 290 mm 130 in wheelbase differing in terms of powertrain and bodywork layout and a short version with 2 980 mm 117 in The long variant termed the normal chassis with the radiator directly above the front axle served as the backbone for the four seater cabriolets the B with four side windows and C with two side windows and for touring cars and saloons The shorter chassis was for the two seater cabriolet A set up on a chassis on which radiator engine cockpit and all rearward modules clarification needed were moved 185 mm 7 3 in back from the front axle 6 As usual with Mercedes cars of this period the Sindelfingen factory provided in house coach work and employed 1 500 people to create the 540K thus allowing for a great deal of owner customisation meaning only 70 chassis were ever bodied by independent builders 5 Owners included Jack L Warner of Warner Brothers film studios 7 With the outbreak of World War II in 1939 the proposed further boring out of the engine to 5 800 cubic centimetres 5 8 L for a 580K was aborted probably after only one such car was made 2 Chassis production ceased in 1940 with the final 2 being completed that year and earlier chassis were still being bodied at a steady rate during 1940 with smaller numbers being completed in the 1941 1943 period Regular replacement bodies were ordered in 1944 for a few cars 8 9 Special saloon W24 edit nbsp Mercedes Benz 540K W24 On top of the normal and roadster cars 12 special cars were developed on an extended chassis length with a 3 880 mm 153 in wheelbase All of these cars were developed for the Nazi hierarchy as six seater convertible saloons To allow for armour plate these cars had developed De Dion rear suspension Due to their higher weight their maximum speed was 140 km h 87 mph After the assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich in Prague at the end of May 1942 the Reich Chancellery would only use armoured cars for ministers and leaders of friendly powers Beside 20 large Mercedes Benz 770s in 1942 they ordered an additional 20 540Ks developed as two door armoured saloons These were delivered during 1942 and 1943 A further order for 17 armoured saloons was placed in late 1943 and these were delivered in April 1944 One of these cars was given as a gift from Adolf Hitler to Ante Pavelic leader of the Independent State of Croatia After the war this car was captured and used first by Ivan Krajacic and then by Josip Broz Tito Hermann Goering s Blue Goose editIn 1936 Mercedes Benz introduced the 540K special designated 540Ks Based on the shorter 2 980 mm 117 in wheelbase chassis its body was carefully crafted Its price tag of 28 000 Reichsmarks some RM6 000 above the price of standard models meant only 32 were ever built 6 In 1937 Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering ordered a 540Ks in his favourite colour of Luftwaffe blue with his family crest on both doors It included armour plated sides and bulletproof glass Nicknamed the Blue Goose Goering was often photographed in the car 6 7 On May 4 1945 the US Army C Company 326th Engineers 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles entered Berchtesgaden and on finding the car took possession Major General Maxwell Taylor used the car as his command vehicle in West Germany until it was commissioned by the US Treasury Shipped to Washington D C it successfully toured the United States in a victory bond tour 6 In 1956 the car was auctioned off by the US Army at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland and sold to Jacques Tunick of Greenwich Connecticut with a high bid of 2167 10 In 1958 Tunick sold the car to the private collection of veterinarian Dr George Bitgood Jr who had it repainted in black and the chrome re plated Kept private Bitgood only displayed it once at the 1973 county fair in Durham Connecticut After Bitgood s death the Blue Goose was shown by his family in June 2002 at the 101st Airborne Reunion at Fort Campbell Kentucky The car was then sold to Carnlough International Limited of Guernsey on the agreement that it be restored to its condition as found at Berchtesgaden 10 Production figures editOf the combined production of the 500K 342 cars and 540K 419 cars from Sindelfingen deliveries were 70 chassis without body 28 open cars offener Tourenwagen 23 saloons with 4 doors mainly 500K 29 saloons with 2 doors mainly 540K 12 Coupes 6 Autobahn cruisers Autobahn kurier 58 Roadsters 116 Cabriolets A 296 Cabriolets B 122 Cabriolets CGallery edit nbsp 1936 Mercedes Benz 540K Cabriolet B nbsp 1936 Mercedes Benz 540K Cabriolet at the Museo dell Automobile Turin nbsp 1937 Mercedes Benz 540K Cabriolet B at Mercedes Benz Museum Stuttgart nbsp 1938 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster at Auto amp Technik Museum Sinsheim nbsp 1938 Mercedes Benz 540K Cabriolet B nbsp 1938 Mercedes Benz 540K Cabriolet in the Cite de l Automobile Mulhouse France nbsp 1939 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster nbsp Mercedes Benz 540K Autobahn kurier nbsp 540K Spezialroadster from 1937 one of two with fender mounted spare wheels References editNotes edit 1934 The Mercedes 500K is born Classicdriver com Archived from the original on 2012 02 10 a b c Brian Sewell 2007 04 12 Mercedes Benz 540K The Independent London Archived from the original on February 9 2009 Retrieved 2010 01 08 1936 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster Sports Car Market Retrieved 2021 11 23 a b Cheetham Craig 2004 Vintage Cars The Finest Prewar Automobiles Rochester United Kingdom Grange Books p 137 ISBN 1840136359 a b Mercedes Benz 540K Concept Carz Retrieved 2010 01 08 a b c d Mercedes Benz 540K special Concept Carz Retrieved 2010 01 08 a b Jones Sam 2007 10 31 World s richest classic car collectors roll up for Ecclestone s garage sale The Guardian London Retrieved 2010 01 08 1940 Mercedes Benz W129 580 K Sport Roadster Technical Specs Dimensions 1939 Mercedes Benz 580 K Sport Roadster W 24 specifications technical data performance fuel economy emissions dimensions horsepower torque weight a b The Extraordinary story of Hermann Goring s 540K Literary Club Retrieved 2010 01 08 Bibliography edit Melin Jan 1985 Mercedes Benz The Supercharged 8 Cylinder Cars of the 1930s Vol 1 Gothenburg Sweden Nordbok International ISBN 9187036002 Hernstrom Sven 2003 Mercedes Benz The Supercharged 8 Cylinder Cars of the 1930s Vol 2 Sparreholm Sweden Gamla Bilsalongen ISBN 9163144352 Oswald Werner in German 2001 Deutsche Autos German Cars in German Vol Band Volume 2 1920 1945 Stuttgart Motorbuch Verlag ISBN 3613021706 2018 Mercedes Benz Personenwagen 1886 1986 Mercedes Benz Passenger Cars 1886 1986 in German Stuttgart Motorbuch Verlag ISBN 9783613041288 External links edit nbsp Media related to Mercedes Benz 540 K at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mercedes Benz 540K amp oldid 1176460020, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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