1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Normal Roadster
- Engine
- Supercharged straight-eight, ~160 bhp with blower engaged
- Colour
- Deep bordeaux red
A right-hand-drive 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Normal Roadster, one of only five surviving examples of this rarer Sindelfingen body style, originally delivered to Mercedes-Benz London in February 1936. Distinguished by its dipping beltline, near-flush convertible top, and numbers-matching engine, chassis, and coachwork, the car passed through a succession of notable American collectors before entering a Swedish collection alongside a Bugatti Royale and Ferrari 250 GTO. A comprehensive restoration preserving original stampings and data plates was completed circa 1980.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,270,000
- 1936-02-07 →Factory deliveryPhilip Lucaspartial documentation
Car was originally invoiced to this individual upon delivery to Mercedes-Benz London, though it was not registered until over a year later.
- 1937-04-01 →Acquisition unknownMr. Withypartial documentation
Recorded as first registered keeper when the car received its British registration number in April 1937.
- → 1980Acquisition unknownCarlisle Marshallpartial documentation
Interior designer and car collector from Lake Worth, Florida; commissioned a restoration by Mervin Colver and exhibited the completed car at a major club event in January 1979.
- 1980 → 1988Private saleDr. Terry Bennettpartial documentation
New Hampshire-based owner who held the car for approximately eight years before it was sold back to Europe.
- 1988 → 1991Private saleHans Thulinpartial documentation
Swedish property developer who assembled a major collection called the Consolidator Collection; the car was briefly displayed at the Technical Museum in Stockholm alongside a Bugatti Royale before financial difficulties forced dispersal.
- 1992 →Private saleCurrent long-term private collectorpartial documentation
Acquired approximately one year after the car returned to the US; kept the car largely in storage and unexhibited for roughly three decades.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJack Bond, Vintage Autospartial documentation
Dealer who offered the car for sale via a press advertisement in early 1955, describing it as among the finest pre-war Mercedes available.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCarter Schaubpartial documentation
Collector based in Apex, North Carolina, who acquired the car around 1955 or 1956; also held other notable supercharged Mercedes-Benz including the Count Trossi SSK.
Competition
- 1979Classic Car Club of AmericaCCCA Annual Meeting Concours, Boca Raton
Car was displayed by Carlisle Marshall following completion of the Mervin Colver restoration.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationMervin 'Beaver' Colver
Comprehensive restoration carried out by Mervin 'Beaver' Colver of Wisconsin, widely regarded as the foremost American restorer of pre-war Mercedes-Benz at the time; the work was reported in Car Collector magazine in October 1978.
Restoration was completed while the car was owned by Carlisle Marshall and publicly shown in January 1979.
- —Restoration
The car was refinished in bordeaux red with a tan leather interior shortly before joining the current collection; the work retained original body stampings, data plates, and all numbers-matching components.
Carried out circa 1991-1992; the interior shows minimal signs of wear and the engine bay and chassis remain in very clean condition.
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