Mercedes-Benz 500 K (W 29)
Determine how the chassis was ordered and delivered. Verify any factory 5.4-litre installation and distinguish commissioned coachwork from later reconstruction.
What to check before buying
Determine how the chassis was ordered and delivered. Verify any factory 5.4-litre installation and distinguish commissioned coachwork from later reconstruction.
Use the factory build record and the individual auction or provenance evidence to assess a particular car.
Documented auction results
If you’re deciding what to offer, start with transactions for cars of similar specification and history. Check the sale date, condition, and whether the price included buyer’s premium.
| Chassis | Date and auction | Outcome and price | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 105384 | 2027RM Sotheby’s · The Arizona Auction 20271935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen | Outcome unconfirmedEstimate USD 3,750,000 to USD 4,500,000 | Auction evidenceFuture offering. RM cites a 5.4-litre engine installed before delivery. |
| 113718 | 2024RM Sotheby’s · The Junkyard: The Rudi Klein Collection1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K 'Caracciola' Special Coupe by Sindelfingen | SoldUSD 4,130,000 · Published sold price | Auction evidence |
| 105384 | 2015RM Sotheby’s · Amelia Island 20151935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen | SoldUSD 3,025,000 · Published sold price | Auction evidence |
Commission a search or pre-purchase review
Source a car
Set the model, specification, budget, and timetable. We run the private search and screen candidates against your brief.
Private sourcingAssess a car you’ve found
Review the seller’s records, comparable sales, and questions for an independent marque specialist before deciding what to offer.
Pre-purchase advice
We agree the written scope, fee, and any specialist costs before work begins.
Factory specification and chronology
- Production
- 1934–1936
- Factory purpose
- Road
Documented variants
| Variant | Production | Body style | Coachbuilder | Wheelbase | Factory specification | Documented examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special RoadsterSpezial-Roadster | — | Roadster | — | — | — | |
| 500 K Cabriolet A | — | — | — | — | — | 105384 |
| 500 K Cabriolet B | — | — | — | — | — |
Individual chassis histories
- Mercedes-Benz 500 K, chassis 113718
A bespoke Sindelfingen Coupé commissioned for Rudolf Caracciola, with a copy of the build sheet cited by RM.
- Mercedes-Benz 500 K, chassis 105384
Factory evidence distinguishes this pre-delivery 5.4-litre installation from a later conversion.