The 1938 Mercedes Benz 540K Sport Tourer stayed under the constant eye of a security guard as workers and volunteers from the Hickory Corners collection set up their display of 10 classic cars for the show, which opens to the public on Thursday, Feb. 6.
“It’s one of the rarest Mercedes in existence,” said Jay Follis, the Gilmore’s marketing director. Valued at $3.5 million by some car experts, Follis declined to comment on its value.
“It’s a question we’re often asked,” he said. “But how do you attach a number to something with such significant historic value? How do you put a price on that or to something which is the only one in the world?”
Not only is it the only surviving member of just two 540 Sport Tourers that were built, the sleek convertible hides a mystery dating back to the dark days of Dresden, Germany during World War II.
“It’s amazing to think that an automobile of this caliber and historical importance survived World War II,” Follis said. “In a war that cost 65 million lives, devastated much of Europe, and saw so many works of art and cultural treasures destroyed or stolen and lost forever, it’s simply astounding.”
While the exhumed car was complete and showed moderate wear, the current owners gave it a complete restoration, Follis said. The car is now on permanent loan to the Gilmore Auto Museum.
Even without its dramatic back story, the Sport Tourer is a beauty. Unlike many roadsters of the day, it features a back seat and a convertible top that hides beneath the rear decklid. The interior includes a mother-of-pearl dashboard. The 8-cylinder engine can take the big car in excess of 100 mph.
