1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Cabriolet A

Vehicle was delivered to Paris on this date; no named individual or firm recorded as recipient.

Celebrated American tenor who used the car regularly, including driving it to Indianapolis and Watkins Glen; the car featured in his 1954 book about his automobile collection. Fenders were lightly altered during his ownership in keeping with contemporary fashion.

Publisher of the Los Angeles Times and devoted collector; commissioned a two-tone green restoration by Richard Martin, with fenders returned to original specification via factory correspondence. The car won Best of Show at Pebble Beach 1973 during his ownership.

Acquired through dealer Tom Barrett; kept the car in a private museum in San Diego housed in a converted roller rink. Collection was dispersed in the early 1980s.

Held the car for roughly a decade; it was featured in Beverly Rae Kimes's 1990 volume on classic automobiles during his tenure.

Following a cosmetic re-paint to scarlet in the early 1990s by Mike Fennel of Saugus, California, the car was kept largely in storage by this unidentified owner until passing to the current owner.

Commissioned RM Auto Restoration to refresh the car, including a new black leather interior, carpets, hood, and tires.

Car was driven by Melton to Indianapolis and photographed alongside Don Lee's Mercedes-Benz W154; this appears to have been an attendance rather than a competitive entry.

Car was present at Watkins Glen ahead of the Seneca Cup race; no competitive entry indicated, likely a personal appearance or display.

Entered by Marilyn B. Chandler on behalf of the Chandler ownership; the only Chandler vehicle ever to claim the top award at this event.

Front fenders were lightly reshaped in the contemporary fashion during the Melton ownership period.

The modification was later reversed during the Chandler-era restoration.

Full restoration carried out in a two-tone green colour scheme; fenders returned to their factory-original contour based on correspondence with the Mercedes-Benz factory.

Completed prior to the 1973 Pebble Beach Concours; the restorer subsequently described the work in conversations in later years.

Cosmetic restoration refinishing the car in bright red, which was then considered the fashionable colour for a 540 K.

Carried out in the early 1990s at Fennel's shop in Saugus, California.

Recommissioning and freshening work including fitting a new black leather interior, fresh carpets, a black hood, and blackwall tyres; the car was also thoroughly inspected and found to retain exceptional originality.

Detailed photographs of original stampings found throughout the car were compiled and made available to prospective buyers.