In 1937, the British automotive magazine, The Motor, tested a Mercedez-Benz 540K and found that the car was even better than advertised. Its top speed was supposed to be 105 mph, but it easily hit 115. An unparalleled blend of speed, flashy looks and superb engineering, the 540K featured a straight 8-cylinder, 5,4 litre engine that ratcheted up to an exhilarating 180 bhp when equipped with a supercharger. It also had more compression and larger bore and stroke than its predecessor. But the real allure of the 1937 Mercedes-Benz came from its appearance. It was offered in a variety of coach styles, including three cabriolets, an open tourer, a convertible coupe, a two-door sedan and a sports roadster. Perhaps the most appealing of all was the rumble seat roadster built by Erdmann & Rossi of Berlin, with its long hood, curvy front fenders and carefree rumble seat, this model was destined to become a classic. The 540K listed for $12,000 but could cost as much as $20,000, a small fortune in the '30s and a mere 406 cars were built from 1936 to 1939! But, for the fortunate few who owned one, the 540K was well worth the price because it was unlike any other automobile of its era. Now, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K is recreated in a beautifully detailed die-cast model by Matchbox Collectibles, "the greatest name in die-cast"

(1997)

Scale: 1:45