Mercedes-Benz 500K

Mercedes-Benz 500K
Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet A
Overview
Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz
Production 1934–1936
Assembly Sindelfingen, Germany
Designer Friedrich Geiger
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door convertible
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 5,018 cc (5.018 L) I8
Transmission 4-speed manual
optional 5-speed manual[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,980 mm (117.3 in) (SWB)
3,290 mm (129.5 in) (LWB)
Curb weight Up to 2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Mercedes-Benz 380
Successor Mercedes-Benz 540K
1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster, Harrah Collection; National Automobile Museum; Reno, Nevada

The Mercedes 500K (type W29) is a grand touring car built by Mercedes-Benz between 1934 and 1936. First exhibited at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show,[1] it carried the factory designation W29.[2] Distinguished from the 500 sedan by the "K" for Kompressor (German for supercharger) only fitted to these performance cars, it succeeded the Mercedes-Benz 380 introduced just the previous year. It offered both a larger, more powerful engine and more opulent coachwork to meet customers' demands for greater luxury and performance.[3][4]


Specifications

The 500K used the same independent suspension as had been introduced on the 380, with a double wishbone front axle, double-joint swing axle at the rear, and separate wheel location, coil springs and damping, a world first.[1][3] Consequently, it was a more comfortable and better handling car than Mercedes' previous S/SS/SSK generation of roadsters from the 1920s, and offered greater appeal to buyers, particularly the growing number of well-heeled female drivers of the time.[1]

Pressing the throttle pedal fully engaged the Roots supercharger,[1] inducing the five litre straight-eight engine to produce up to 160 horsepower (120 kW) and making the car capable of over 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph), while consuming fuel at the rate of up to 30 l/100 km (9.4 mpg‑imp; 7.8 mpg‑US) as it did so.[1][4]

Three different chassis and eight bodies were available for customers;[1][4] the two longer "B" and "C" four-seat cabriolet versions rode on a wheelbase of 3,290 mm (129.5 in), and would later be used on other sedan and touring car models.[1] The short "A" chassis, with a 2,980 mm (117.3 in) wheelbase, underpinned the two-seater models: the Motorway Courier, and the 1936 Special Roadster which offered the highest performance.[1][5] All models featured such advanced equipment as safety glass, hydraulic brakes, and a 12-volt electrical system sufficient to bear the load of the electric windscreen wipers, door locks, and indicators.[4]

Production

The combined production of the 500K (342 cars) including 29 Special Roadsters during its two years in production, and the later 540K (419 cars) from Sindelfingen, the deliveries were:[1]

  • 70 chassis without body
  • 28 open cars
  • 23 sedans with 4 doors (mainly 500K)
  • 29 sedans with 2 doors (mainly 540K)
  • 12 Coupés
  • 6 Autobahn cruisers
  • 58 Roadsters
  • 116 Cabriolets A
  • 296 Cabriolets B
  • 122 Cabriolets C

Today

Today, the cars remain highly prized for their heritage and scarcity. When the car collection of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was auctioned in October 2007 it included five pre-war Mercedes, and his 500K Special Cabriolet fetched almost £700,000 (US$1.45 million).[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "1934 - The Mercedes 500K is born". Classicdriver.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10.
  2. ↑ "Herren-Rasse: Ein Automobil seiner Epoche: pompös, mächtig, respektheischend...Mercedes 500K". Auto, Motor und Sport. Heft. 20 1977: Seite 58–68. 28 September 1977.
  3. 1 2 "1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster". Sportscarmarket.com. August 2001. Archived from the original on 2008-10-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Frank, Michael (February 5, 2003). "Special K". Forbes.
  5. ↑ "The 25 Most Beautiful Cars Ever". Automobile Magazine.
  6. ↑ "Gallery: Ecclestone Merc goes for £4m". MSN. October 31, 2007.
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