Mercedes-Benz 540K

The Mercedes-Benz 540K is a German car that was manufactured for the first time in 1935 and continuing through 1940. Friedrich Geiger designed the 540K in three distinctive styles, the cabriolet edition that sat two people, the four-seat coupe, and the limousine that could hold seven people comfortably. The Mercedes-Benz 540K limousine was one the largest cars available in the 1930s and was even available with armored sides and glass.

The 540K edition was an extension of the 500K, which itself was an extension of the SSK model. The engine of the Mercedes-Benz 540K was in the front compartment and was a rear-wheel drive. Changes made to the Mercedes-Benz 540K included an increased capacity engine, from eight cylinders to 5.4 liters. In addition, the Roots supercharger (air compressor used to increase the oxygen flow rate) could be employed manually or automatically when the gas pedal is pushed down completely. The 180 hp with a top speed of about 110 mph made the Mercedes-Benz 540K quite a popular powerhouse.

Either a four or a five-speed manual transmission powered the rear-wheel drive automobile. The hydraulic brakes included the enhancement of vacuum-assistance in order to keep the car under control. While the body of the 540K was essentially the same as the 500K, the frame was replaced with oval-section tubes instead of the girder-type frame. This body change was a tip of the hat to the German racing cars called the "Silver Arrows". Overall, there were only 419 Mercedes-Benz 540Ks manufactured in the Sindelfingen factory. The Sindelfingen manufacturing plant had 1,500 employees.

There were three chassis available to the meet the specific wishes of the auto buyers. Two editions were longer with a 130-inch wheelbase and a shorter edition that had a wheelbase of only 117 inches. The longer version chassis's were the building blocks for the four seat cabriolets ('B' and 'C' body styles) and also for the more luxurious touring sedans. The two-seater cabriolet or the 'A' body style used the shorter chassis's.

The special edition Mercedes-Benz 540K was manufactured in 1936. Its body style was based upon the shorter wheelbase of 117 inches. The cost of this edition Mercedes-Benz was 28,000 Reichmarks, and only 32 of these automobiles were ever produced. Blue Goose was the nickname of the blue Mercedes-Benz 540K owned by Hermann Goring (Reichsmarschall of the Nazi party) which included armor plating and bulletproof glass.

Twelve special Mercedes-Benz 540Ks were built with 153-inch wheelbases for the Nazi regime and were all available as six seat convertible editions. Since they were armor plated, the top speed of these cars was only 87 mph. During World War II, all of the 540Ks were produced exclusively for the German army. Adolph Hitler reportedly even gave one to the leader of Croatia, Ante Pavelic.

The Mercedes-Benz 540K is stereotypical 1930s Hollywood glamour. Jack Warner, the head of Warner Brother's studio in Hollywood owned a 540K as a symbol of his elevated status. Hollywood starlets also loved this car, as it was such a spectacular vision of luxury. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz 540K and other luxury automobiles, visit oldoppos.us.