1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster (rebodied from Cabriolet B)
- Engine
- 5.4L supercharged inline-eight, pushrod OHV, Roots-type twin-vane blower, ~180 bhp with supercharger engaged
- Colour
- Deep wine red
This Mercedes-Benz 540 K began life as a Cabriolet B, delivered in September 1938 to a buyer in Bochum, Germany, before passing through several hands including the estate of celebrated pre-war Mercedes collector Dr. George Bitgood of Connecticut. Acquired in poor condition, its deteriorated original body was replaced with a meticulously crafted Special Roadster coachwork by metalworker Cass Nawrocki, then finished to concours standard by Portland restorer Jim Friswold. The completed car earned Best of Show at the 2013 Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,545,000
- 1938-09-30 →Factory deliveryBuyer in Bochum, Germanypartial documentation
Original delivery recipient of the car, then configured as a Cabriolet B, per factory order book records.
- 1946-08-01 →Acquisition unknownOwner in Wiesbaden, Germanypartial documentation
Car returned to the factory and was resold to this party, per a second entry in the factory order book.
- → 1998Acquisition unknownDr. George Bitgoodpartial documentation
Veterinarian from Middletown, Connecticut, known as an early collector of pre-war supercharged Mercedes-Benz vehicles; some cars were exhibited while others stayed on his property until his death in 1998.
- 1998 →Acquisition unknownCollector and broker in Los Angelespartial documentation
Reportedly acquired the car from the Bitgood estate; subsequently sold it to the next owner.
- → 2015Private saleFormer owner prior to 2015partial documentation
Purchased from the Los Angeles dealer; commissioned the rebodying as a Special Roadster and the full restoration involving coachbuilder Cass Nawrocki and restorer Jim Friswold.
- 2015 →Private salePrior owner from 2015partial documentation
Undertook additional mechanical work including carburettor rebuild, clutch relining, gearbox and steering adjustments, and fitment of a power steering pump; car kept in well-preserved condition.
Competition
- 20132013 Forest Grove Concours d'EleganceBest of Show
First public appearance after restoration completion; car presented in wine-red finish.
- 20142014 Niello Concours at SerranoMost Glamorous Car
Event held in El Dorado Hills, California; car received wide acclaim throughout its concours outings.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2015Mechanical
Post-acquisition mechanical sorting encompassing carburetor rebuild, replacement of clutch plate lining, and adjustment of the gearbox and steering. A power steering pump was also fitted to ease driving in contemporary traffic.
Work is documented in a file accompanying the car.
- —Restoration
Original Cabriolet B body was found to be extensively deteriorated and required rebuilding; the decision was taken to rebody the car as a Special Roadster, retaining the original chassis, drivetrain, lights, wire wheels, and instruments.
Work preceded engagement of Cass Nawrocki for coachbuilding.
- —BodyworkCass Nawrocki, Moose Lake, Minnesota
Full coachbuilding of a new Special Roadster body by Cass Nawrocki: a wooden framework of kiln-dried eastern ash was constructed, then hand-formed exterior panels were fabricated and fitted, referencing original fenders, doors, and panels from a known 540 K Special Roadster. The process took approximately two years.
Nawrocki had previously rebodied an original 540 K Special Roadster and retained the patterns, jigs, and reference panels used for that project.
- —RestorationJim Friswold, Portland, Oregon
Comprehensive concours-level finishing of the new Special Roadster body, including paint in wine red, tan leather interior, brightwork, and canvas top, taking approximately three years to complete.
Friswold had previously prepared a Cabriolet A that achieved a perfect score at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
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