A last-of-its-kind 1938 Mercedes-Benz takes Pebble Beach's top trophy
The "Autobahn-Kurier" was built for high-speed cruising on Germany's expressways
This Mercedes-Benz 540K was one of six “Autobahn-Kuriers” made. They were named for their ability to cruise quickly and effortlessly on Germany’s highways, thanks to their engineering and aerodynamics. The automaker produced four copies as 500K models, and two 540K versions with a supercharged 5.4L eight-cylinder engine.
This one was the second of the two built, and the only one of the six known to survive. It’s owned by Arturo and Deborah Keller, and housed in their Keller Collection at The Pyramids in California.
The car first won its class and then faced off against the winners of the 27 other classes — cars ranging from a 1910 Winton, to a 1930 Duesenberg, through to a 1957 Cadillac and 1981 Lamborghini Countach — to capture the top title.
The Mercedes-Benz was initially bought in 1938 by Dr. Ignacio Barraquer, a Spanish ophthalmologist who invented many of the surgical instruments and procedures still used today, including for cataract surgery. He drove the wheels off it over the years, taking it on extended trips through North Africa, Austria, and Switzerland right into the 1950s. It remained in his family until the Kellers bought it in 2003.
The Kellers previously won Pebble Beach’s Best in Show in 1986 with a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster; and in 2001 with a 1930 Mercedes-Benz SS Erdmann & Rossi Roadster. This year’s win was the ninth time a Benz has taken the trophy, finally tying with Bugatti for the honour.