Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1938, 1939
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the W29 lineup in March 1934 at the International Motor and Motorcycle Show in Berlin.
The carmaker didn't specify that it will replace the model 380 with the newly introduced 500, but the complete lineup with seven bodyworks available, apart from the bare-chassis version, raise suspicions. In June 1934, Mercedes-Benz introduced the new 500 on its price list, and in the following month, it retired the Typ 380. Two years later, the carmaker increased the engine displacement from five liters to 5.4 liters leading to a new designation name, the 540. The K came from the "Kompressor," the German word for the supercharger. One of the rarest 540 K was the Cabriolet A. The carmaker offered the W29 with three open-top versions.
The Cabriolet A featured a pined-out radiator, pushed back from the bumper just behind the front axle. Its large front fenders supported the cross-beam with the big headlights and an additional set of fog lamps. On both sides, the carmaker placed the spare wheels between the rear-hinged doors and the front wheels. Mercedes-Benz built 116 units of them.
Inside, the carmaker insisted on exclusive materials. The fine leather and the wood veneers were perfectly combined with the polished metal from the steering wheel, and door handles. While other Cabriolet versions provided room for four, the Cabriolet A featured two seats at the front and a parcel at the back.
The chassis used was the long-wheelbase version, with front independent suspension and a rear swing axle with coil springs. Its 5.4-liter supercharged engine provided 180 hp when the supercharger was engaged. Mercedes-Benz paired the powerplant with a four-speed manual gearbox.
ENGINE SPECS - 540 Kompressor | |
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Cylinders: | L8 |
Displacement: | 5401 cm3 |
Power: | 132 KW @ 3400 RPM 180 HP @ 3400 RPM 177 BHP @ 3400 RPM |
Torque: | 318 lb-ft @ 2200 RPM 431 Nm @ 2200 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 105 mph (169 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 7.50-17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 200.8 in (5100 mm) |
Width: | 74 in (1880 mm) |
Height: | 65 in (1651 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 60.4/60.9 in (1,534/1,547 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 129.5 in (3289 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 5291 lbs (2400 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6283 lbs (2850 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 8.1 mpg US (29 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 691 g/km |