1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A
- Engine
- 5.4L supercharged straight-eight, 115 bhp unblown / 180 bhp with compressor engaged
- Colour
- Light green with pale yellow roof
The Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A, chassis 154078, is one of only 32 Sindelfingen-built examples in this two-seat sporting configuration, of which approximately 18 are thought to survive. Ordered in August 1936 by British Mercedes-Benz on behalf of a Surrey dealer, it was delivered in December 1936 in right-hand drive with light green coachwork. A 2015 Mercedes-Benz Classic expert assessment confirmed that the engine, gearbox, rear axle, steering gear, and body all carry their original numbers matching the factory build sheet, making this a fully numbers-matching, highly original example of one of the most celebrated pre-war German automobiles.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €2,255,000 (≈ $2.48M)
- 1936-12-01 → 1937-12-01Private saleMr Painepartial documentation
Likely resided in Warwickshire; car was registered under plate EPK 402 and passed to a London-based owner in late 1937 according to Kithead Trust transport records.
- 1937-12-01 →Private saleSecond owner based in Londonpartial documentation
Acquired the car from the Warwickshire owner in December 1937; identity not recorded in available sources.
- 1992 → 2009Acquisition unknownEduard Bollmeyerpartial documentation
Based in Bünde, Germany; sold the car in 2009.
- 2009 → 2015Private saleEric van Lammerenfull documentation
Munich-based owner who commissioned substantial mechanical work between 2010 and 2014 exceeding €50,000, plus roughly €40,000 of further work at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in 2015–2016; also arranged a detailed authenticity assessment from Mercedes-Benz Classic in 2015.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJean-Paul La Fugepartial documentation
Parisian resident with an address on Avenue Rapp; car likely left the UK around 1964 and was probably exported to France, suggesting this ownership followed that export.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2015InspectionMercedes-Benz Classic
Comprehensive manufacturer's expert assessment commissioned from Mercedes-Benz Classic, confirming numbers-matching status of all major mechanical and body components and verifying period-correct chassis steel composition.
Assessment concluded that the car, while wearing a different colour scheme than when new, is correct and fully original relative to the factory build sheet.
- —Mechanical
Mechanical repairs and fettling work carried out over several years, costing in excess of €50,000 in total.
Work commissioned by Eric van Lammeren and carried out between 2010 and 2014.
- —MechanicalMercedes-Benz Classic Center
Further mechanical and related work undertaken at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center at a cost of approximately €40,000.
Carried out across 2015 and 2016; all work is documented in the accompanying file.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.