Rare 1934 Mercedes-Benz 540K Could Set New World Record Auction Price

World records are hard to set, regardless of their type, so every time one is about to happen the attention immediately switches to it. So is the case with a car that, aside from the fact that is far from being ordinary, is expected to fetch more money than any other of its kind at an auction.

The brand in question is none other than the 3-pointed star, and an extremely rare Mercedes-badged model is seen as a valid candidate to attract a new world record auction price.

RM Auctions - the company responsible with the sale of the car - says it expects the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster to write history when it will go under the hammer in Monterey, California, this August.

The Special Roadster in question was priced at around $12,000 when new and is one of just a few built with the most desirable configuration of high door, long tail and covered rear spare, of which it is believed just three examples survive.

The rare 540K on offer was ordered new by the factory branch in Buenos Aires for the owners of a prestigious Argentinean clothing store. Delivered in June 1937, 154140 spent its early years in Argentina before being imported into the United States by one of the country’s first full-time antique automobile dealers, Tiny Gould.

It then passed through a string of well-documented owners, including time spent in both Australia and Germany. “Today, beautifully presented and the recipient of a thorough, concours-quality restoration, it has enjoyed great success on the show field at both the prestigious Amelia Island and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance events,” RM Auctions said.

A similar 1937 540K Special Roadster from the private collection of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone sold for no less than $8,252,201 in October 2007.