Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1935
The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster was the rarest W29 vehicle built by the German car manufacturer. It was shown at the Paris Motor Show in October 1935.
It was based on a special chassis, with a rear-set engine, while the other body variants of the 500 K were built on a standard one. That meant that the big, 5-liter supercharged unit was installed further behind the front axle.
The 500 K Special Roadster was built in only 50 units, out of a total of 761 units of the 500 K with all the variants. Unlike the other open-top versions of the W29 model, the Special Roadster had only two seats. To light-up the road ahead, that version was equipped with an additional pair of lights mounted on the A-pillars.
The inline-eight engine was based on the previous 3.8-liter unit used before with an enlarged bore and stroke and a different crankshaft. It was mated to a 5-speed semi-automatic gearbox, meaning that the driver could shift from fourth to fifth gear without using the clutch. The top gear was overdrive and it was designed for the motorway high-speed use. In those times, the Autobahn (German highway) network started to take shape and, as an "Autobahn-Kurierwagen" (Highway transporter) as it was called, its performance lived up to its name.
The Special Roadster was the most expensive version of the W29 with a price-tag of RM 28.000, while the chassis-version was priced at RM 15.500 and the convertible was RM 22.000.
ENGINE SPECS - 500 Kompressor | |
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Cylinders: | L8 |
Displacement: | 5018 cm3 |
Power: | 118 KW @ 3400 RPM 160 HP @ 3400 RPM 158 BHP @ 3400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 5 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 7.00-17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 196.9 in (5001 mm) |
Width: | 74 in (1880 mm) |
Height: | 59.8 in (1519 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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Gross Weight Limit: | 5952 lbs (2700 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 8.7 mpg US (27 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 643 g/km |