Pic Of The Week: Mercedes-Benz 500 K
PH presents a very 'Special Roadster' from the 1930s
click to preview
No, not PH editor Chris-R (got to be worth a pay rise, that), but the supercharged Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster that had been laid on as one of the 'inspirations' guiding Wagener's future direction for the M-B brand.
We're not scholars of automotive history ourselves, but we know what we like. So for this week's POTW, we're proud to offer a Merc studio shot of the car in question, and a bit of a history lesson courtesy of the official press release reproduced below:
Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster, 1934 (Press release)
Chris-R not paying attention again
Along with the prestigious Grand Mercedes, the 500 K embodied the Mercedes-Benz brand in the 1930s. Equipped with an in-line eight-cylinder engine, it allowed journeys to be completed at high speed and in great comfort. As with the four- and six-cylinder supercharged models, the Roots blower did not run constantly. On the 500 K, the driver activated the supercharger by fully depressing the accelerator pedal when extra power was required, such as for an overtaking.
The 500 K presented itself as an object of consummate aesthetics. In their time, it was neither very modern nor particularly avant-garde. The different body variants were robust, sophisticated and characterised by extravagant, flowing lines. Their elegant appearance designed by Hermann Ahrens contributed very much to the excellent image of Sindelfingen body design. The range included a four-door sedan, a streamlined limousine, a two-seater roadster with two occasional seats, three convertible versions and a two-door open-top touring car.
The special roadster was the most beautiful and most elegant of the eight body variants available for the 500 K. In the international motor shows in Paris and London it was described as the "most beautiful car in the show". It had a high-quality interior trimmed with exotic wood and equipped with reclining seats as well as an extensive set of instruments including a rev counter and temperature gauge. Priced at 28,000 Reichmarks, it was also the most expensive variant. It therefore comes as no surprise that only 25 of the 500 K special roadsters were produced - a very small number compared to the 342 units of the 500 K built in total.
In 1936, the 500 K was succeeded by the 540 K which was nearly indistinguishable from the 500 K on the outside because improvements were made predominantly to the engine and transmission. The brochure described the 540 K as "the world standard for beauty and speed". The special roadster continued to be the most beautiful, most elegant and most exclusive variant.
Click below to download this week's wallpaper:
Normal (1280x1024)
WideScreen (1440x900)
SuperSize (2048x1536)
Join Pic of the Week on Facebook
Technical data
Number of cylinders 8
Displacement 5,018 cc / 306 cu in
Maximum output 100 hp (74 kW) at 3,400 rpm
with supercharger 160 hp (118 kW) at 3,400 rpm
Top speed 160 km/h / 100 mph
And the only Merc I would want to own to boot!
I love cars of this era, Even Skoda had a striking piece of kit the Monte Carlo.
Auburn, Cord, Hispano Suiza, Merc, Rolls and Talbot and many many others, they where really showing off their Engineering skills in this era before Computers, mass manufacturing of componants and Health and Safety (would you like to be run over by the Skoda?)
So what happened?
Some of the comments on PH threads astound me sometimes. Bunch of plebeians.
That photograph borders on automotive porn. I just love some of the design details .... especially those rear lights on sticky out 'pods'. Incredible how something can be painted brown and yet look THAT good.
Sounds to me like a great bit of engineering for the day.
Hmmm, now when the numbers come up - 540k or 100SS?...
Check out the Bentleys, Alfa's and Bugatti's of the period, or even the previous decade. They would absolutely muller it. A Lotus Esprit wouldn't be able to shake off a T35 up to 125mph.
Some of the comments on PH threads astound me sometimes. Bunch of plebeians.
That photograph borders on automotive porn. I just love some of the design details .... especially those rear lights on sticky out 'pods'. Incredible how something can be painted brown and yet look THAT good.
Alright, I don't mind admitting to be a bit old fashioned, but when you read modern marketing blurb about 'styling' it makes me cringe when there are (were) cars like this. I'd love to have a modern version of one of these. When I look at production cars with their 'styling'..... meaning ugly grey cheap polypropylene interiors....
When I could have been popping down to the shops in one of these...
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff