1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (first-series)
- Engine
- 5.4L supercharged inline-eight, 180 bhp with blower engaged
- Colour
- Red with black accents
Chassis 130945 is a Mercedes-Benz 540 K finished in the rare first-series Cabriolet A body style, closely related to the earlier 500 K coachwork and featuring long open fenders, twin rear-mounted spares, and a low windshield. Delivered new in Stuttgart, the car later reached the United States and passed through a distinguished sequence of owners, earning a perfect CCCA Grand Classic score and competing in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally before entering a major private collection.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,600,000
- → 1969Acquisition unknownDon Roundspartial documentation
Denver, Colorado-based oil industry figure and wildcatter who also owned a Duesenberg Model J concurrently; acquisition believed to have occurred sometime in the 1950s after the car reached the US.
- 1969 → 1970InheritanceEstate of Don Roundspartial documentation
Car passed to the estate following Rounds's death; historian documentation in the file describes it at this time as mechanically restored but likely retaining original paintwork, in apparently sound condition.
- 1970 → 1985Private saleLowell E. Ledfordpartial documentation
Cedar Rapids, Iowa engineer who held the car for fifteen years and carried out its first full restoration, during which it earned a perfect-score primary first-place award at a CCCA regional event.
- 1985 →Private saleDon Williams / Blackhawk Collectionpartial documentation
Car was photographed during this period in red livery and published in a noted reference work on supercharged Mercedes-Benz models.
- → 2011Private saleThomas Taffetpartial documentation
Described as a long-standing Mercedes-Benz specialist acquirer; held the car for an extended period during which a cosmetic refresh of the older restoration was undertaken near the end of his ownership.
- 2011 →Acquisition unknownUAE-based collectornone documentation
Anonymous owner in the United Arab Emirates; tenure described as brief before the car returned to the US.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryMrs. Maria Leyderfull documentation
Original registered client per the Daimler-Benz build sheet; residence listed as Stuttgart. Prose implies delivery around 1936.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownNachiro Ishikawapartial documentation
Japanese collector who kept the car in California but transported it to Europe on occasion, including two participations in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally in 1991 and 1994.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
US-based collector in whose hands the car has remained since acquisition following its return from the UAE; exhibited at Pebble Beach in 2019 and recently serviced by Fast Cars of Redondo Beach in preparation for sale.
Competition
- 1977Classic Car Club of AmericaCCCA Gulf Area Grand Classic, TulsaPrimary First Place, perfect score of 100 points
Concours judging event held in Tulsa, Oklahoma; awarded during Ledford's ownership following his restoration of the car.
- 1991Monte Carlo Historic RallyDriver: Nachiro Ishikawa1st overall
First of two reported victories in this historic rally; car was based in California but transported to Europe for the event.
- 1994Monte Carlo Historic RallyDriver: Nachiro Ishikawa1st overall
Second reported overall victory in the same historic rally, again during Ishikawa's ownership.
- 2019Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Exhibited at the prestigious California concours during the current owner's tenure; no specific award mentioned.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Mechanical
Mechanical restoration carried out at some point prior to the estate sale, with the car apparently retaining its original finishes at that time.
Condition documented by historian Jonathan Sierakowski via photographs and written description included in the car's file.
- —Restoration
First comprehensive restoration undertaken by Ledford during his 15-year ownership, bringing the car to a standard sufficient for a perfect CCCA judging score.
Completed prior to the 1977 CCCA Gulf Area Grand Classic where the car received 100 points.
- —Bodywork
Cosmetic freshening of the existing restoration carried out toward the end of the Taffet ownership period.
- —ServiceFast Cars
Pre-sale mechanical service performed to prepare the car for auction; invoices are part of the documented file.
Workshop located in Redondo Beach, California and described as highly regarded.
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