Two exceptional Mercedes eight cylinder engined machines ...

[Wouter Melissen]

Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,

Looking back at 2008 there are two eight cylinder engined Mercedes that immediately spring to mind. The first because it is just so unusually beautiful and very rare. The other because it was brought back to full racing condition and driven in anger for the first time in almost twenty years. Today we take a well illustrated, closer look at both.
During the 1930s Mercedes Benz made some fantastic cars that boasted powerful engines, high quality and elegant but understated styling. Even the the extravagant 'Spezial Roadster' coachwork looked sedate compared to the contemporary French and Italian designs. There was one big exception; the Autobahn Kurier built on the 500/540 K chassis. The exceptionally beautiful fastback coupe was designed for high speed cruising on the newly built Autobahns. Amazingly only two were ever sold and both to foreign countries. Neither was seen for many decades until the featured example resurfaced at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Many believe it should have been crowned best of show at Pebble. Some justice came at Villa d'Este this year where it won the Coppa d'Oro. Our 18-shot gallery pictures the car at both of its rare outings.
Fast forward some fifty years and we find Mercedes Benz back in sports car racing for the first time since the horrific accident at Le Mans in 1955. For the occasion the German manufacturer has joined forces with Swiss specialist Peter Sauber resulting in the fantastic Sauber Mercedes C9 Group C racer. With a Le Mans win and a World Championship under the belt, it was very successful. In 2008 one of the six cars built was reconditioned and prepared for racing in the Group C Historic Championship; a first for a Sauber Mercedes. Just as in period the C9 was among the top runners, winning at its Spa debut. We caught up with the car at Le Mans and during the Goodwood Festival of Speed and have captured the 'Silver Arrow' in great detail.

Enjoy the links:

1937 - 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 K Autobahn Kurier - Images, Specifications and Information

1987 - 1989 Sauber Mercedes C9 - Images, Specifications and Information

Regards,
Wouter Melissen

[Cyco]

The 540K is one of the few MBs I actually love.

Great review, brilliant photos

[Ferrer]

Fantastic feature, Doctor Barraquer's 540K.

[Wouter Melissen]

Fantastic feature, Doctor Barraquer's 540K.

Was this car well known in Spain? From what I read it was rarely seen in the last 50 years.

[Ferrer]

Was this car well known in Spain? From what I read it was rarely seen in the last 50 years.

Not very, and less outside Catalunya.

I remember years ago seeing it on TV3 (Catalunya's television).