Summary

A one-off body by the Mayfair Carriage Co. Referred to by the factory as 'Fahrgestell mit zuruckgesetztem Motor' (chassis with setback motor). Radiator and entire drivetrain were set back 185mm. From the Don Williams Collection.

Details

This 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster has a one-off body by the Mayfair Carriage Co. It has a folding windshield, and the extensive use of louvers and skirted rear fenders lend an air of elegance to the design. The coachwork is much lighter than the more closed bodies traditionally fitted to these chassis, yielding sparkling performance - particularly when the blower is engaged. It was ordered with a set-back radiator, meant for open cars and factory roadsters in particular. The factory referred to this variation as 'Fahrgestell mit zuruckgesetztem Motor' (chassis with setback motor). Although externally identifiable by the relative position of the radiator over the front axle, in fact, the radiator and entire drivetrain were set back 185 mm. This gave the car a completely different air, with an opportunity for a more aggressive front end and an overall longer, lower appearance. Mercedes-Benz chassis records indicate that this car was shipped on October 7, 1936, to the factory store in Paris France - an unusual destination for a right-hand-drive chassis, particularly one that would later receive an English body. It is an anomaly that may never be explained but adds to the exotic aura that surrounds the car. It is interesting to note also that Michael Frostick, in his book 'The Mighty Mercedes,' lists the car among the other U.K. chassis, but does not provide any further details (as he does for most of the other cars). Historians have speculated that the car's origins in Paris may account for this, as it may have been ordered by a British expatriate living in Paris, and then later shipped to London for the body to be constructed. According to another source, the original commission was for an Indian maharajah, which would also explain the right-hand-drive chassis. In either case, Frostick would not have had access to the details available for more conventional orders. This 540K was in London during the early 1950s before being purchased by Peter Hessler of Quebec City, Canada, who only had the Mercedes for a short time. It then made its way into the hands of an enthusiast named Paul Suckling, who lived in Toronto. In 1968, the car was purchased by publisher Richard C. Mertz, a Detroit-area collector, who imported it to America and began to restore this 540K with his son Steve Mertz. During the restoration, the panel work was undertaken by Alcraft, a Detroit-area prototype shop. The balance of the work was handled by the owner and his son, along with Harry Flynn, Harry Kennedy and John Graham. Bud Cohn of California supplied many of the small parts. In 1984, during the restoration process, Richard Mertz passed away, leaving the car to his son Steve, of Royal Oak, MI. In 1994, this 540K was offered for sale, joining the world-class collection of casino owner Ralph Englestad of Las Vegas, NV. Englestad commissioned a second restoration to upgrade the car to concours condition, changing the car from black over silver to red (restoration photos are available). Shortly after Englestad died in 2002, the Mayfair 540K joined a well-known Southern California collection, where it was displayed in the company of other stellar examples of the marque. From the Don Williams Collection.