1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Hebmuller

VIN: 154143

$995,000

Sold

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K  Hebmuller

Seller details

Vehicle specs

  • Chassis/VIN

    154143

  • Body style

    Coupe

  • Generation

    1936-1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K

Vehicle details

Notes and observations recorded by Hagerty staff.

Equipment

5,401cc/180hp supercharged inline eight, 3-speed with overdrive, crank out vee windshield, silver painted wire wheels, bias ply wide whitewalls, enclosed rear-mounted spare, folding Golde sunroof, auxiliary gauges with old aircraft instruments, Marchal sp

Condition

#3 Good

Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.

About Hagerty’s condition ratingsClose

Originally a Sindelfingen (Body #200451) Cabriolet A with 540 K Second Series setback engine and radiator. Fitted from the beltline up with this coupe roof by Hebmuller in 1951 along with other body modifications including a vee windshield, skirted front fenders and alterations to the tail to order of the Henkel family of Dusseldorf, owners of Henkel & Cie. Chemical Works. Later had the Golde sunroof installed. Brought to the U.S. in the early 50's and owned by Henry A. Rudkin, Jr., scion of the family that started Pepperidge Farm bakery. Sold by John P. Quirk to the present owning family at a Park Bernet auction in Denver in 1968 and preserved since then in as-acquired condition, not registered for road use since 1980. Cracked and scratched old repaint, sound original upholstery turning brown with age and headliner. Surface rusting wheel rims. Peeling old chrome bumpers and trim but sound radiator, headlight shells and parking lights. Aged engine compartment but said to run, drive and stop after recent recommissioning by RM Auto Restorations. Rusting right door bottom. 1937 undercoat in the wheelwells. A long-rumored but unknown classic, aged but generally sound and complete.

Market commentary

This was the most anticipated and admired car in the Scottsdale auctions, a gem of Thirties performance and design. It should be preserved at least through a year's succession of Preservation exhibits before being restored. There will be arguments about retaining the sunroof and seriously funky leg-scraping auxiliary aircraft gauges which post-date the Hebmuller modifications; my opinion is that they're part of its intriguing history and should remain as markers of its past. The setback radiator and coupe coachwork are visually arresting even in the present muted colors and it is all-matching numbers and original save for its most distinctive feature, the Hebmuller coupe roof. There was no shortage of interest in it at the auction and the result here reflects the value judgment of informed classic car collectors. The family should return to Nebraska satisfied, if not ebullient, with this result.