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. **

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