 | The Mercedes-Benz 540K (type W24) was built for the world's elite from 1935 to 1940. Kings, queens, movie stars and the filthy rich had a very special car built for them to order. Available as a two-seater cabriolet, four seater coupé or seven seater limousine with armoured sides and armoured glass, it was one of the largest and most advanced cars of it's time. The straight-8 cylinder engine was 5,401 cubic centimetres (329.6 cu in). When No. 154080 last crossed the auction block in August of 2018 it made a low $3.3m due to originality concerns. |
 | The engine was fed by twin pressurized updraft carburetors, developing 115 hp. A Roots supercharger, which could either be engaged manually for short periods, or automatically when the accelerator was pushed fully to the floor. |  |
 | Power was sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed or optional five speed manual gearbox that featured synchromesh on the top three gears. Mercedes-Benz built only 419 cars: 32 examples were roadsters. 25 Roadsters survived to this day |
 | The world record price for a 540K Spezial Roadster is $11,770,000, by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2012 for the Spezial Roadster of Baroness Gisela von Krieger of Prussia. |  |
 | Four 540K Spezial Roadsters pictured are all in the top 100 most expensive cars ever sold at auction. From top left clockwise, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster which fetched US$9,680,000, the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster which fetched US$7,480,000, the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster which fetched US$4,620,000 and the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster which fetched US$8,106,150. |
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