1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabriolet C
- Engine
- Supercharged inline-eight, ~150 bhp
- Colour
- Two-tone scarlet (dual shades of red)
A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabriolet C, chassis Kommission 209800, delivered new to Hamburg in October 1935 and one of an estimated 20 surviving examples of this 90-unit body style. Restored by the celebrated California workshop Hill & Vaughn between 1984 and 1985 — with Phil Hill personally involved — the car won its class at the 1985 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and was subsequently borrowed by Daimler-Benz for centenary celebrations and advertising. It retains original chassis and engine stampings and its Pebble Beach livery of two-tone scarlet with beige interior.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$692,500
- 1935-10-12 →Factory deliveryInitial Hamburg customerfull documentation
Factory records confirm delivery to a customer based in Hamburg on this date. Identity not recorded in the catalogue.
- Date unknownIzzy Dupontpartial documentation
Late collector from Columbus, Ohio, in whose possession the car was found around 1980. A photograph taken at that time shows the car in apparently sound condition.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRichard Wesselinkpartial documentation
Collector from Thousand Oaks, California, who purchased the car from the Dupont estate and engaged Hill & Vaughn for a full restoration completed between 1984 and 1985, with Phil Hill personally involved. Subsequently loaned the car to Mercedes-Benz for centenary celebrations and advertising use.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent collection ownerpartial documentation
Acquired into the present collection in the early 1980s per the catalogue text, though this appears inconsistent with the Wesselink restoration of 1984-1985. Car retains its Pebble Beach concours condition.
Competition
- 19851985 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceClass winner
Entered by Richard Wesselink following the Hill & Vaughn restoration; the car was presented in two-tone scarlet with a beige and maroon interior.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1985RestorationHill & Vaughn
Comprehensive restoration carried out in the mid-1980s, resulting in a two-tone scarlet exterior with beige interior piped in maroon; Phil Hill was personally involved in finishing the work. Engine bay received extensive engine-turned decoration.
Work spanned 1984 to 1985 and was commissioned by Richard Wesselink.
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