540K Autobahn Kurier Wins the Big Prize at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier was created as an experimental prototype back in 1938. Now in 2021, the one surviving example of the two built has won the most prestigious Concours award there is.
Pebble Beach Returns
The prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the headlining event of Monterey Car Week, brings together a who's who of the most unique, extremely valuable, and historically significant automobiles ever built on a yearly basis. And each year, the world's wealthiest collectors and diehard enthusiasts come together to celebrate the beauty of these amazing machines.
Photos: Povi Pullinen / MotorTrend
70th Anniversary of the Concours
And after a year in hiatus, the Pebble Beach proceedings returned to the coast of California, celebrating its 70th anniversary. And on this memorable occasion, it was an incredibly rare show-stopper from the three-pointed star that took home the trophy for the "best in show" title. The winning car in question is this stunning 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier.
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Fierce Competition
Granted, the show had no shortage of amazing participants. But it's easy to see why this beauty was picked for the final four, and subsequently the overall winner by the judges. Many would argue, though, that once the finalists were announced, it was pretty easy to guess who was going home as the winner.
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Worthy Finalists
The other finalists were a 1957 Maserati 450S Zagato Coupe, a 1967 Ferrari 365 Pininfarina Tre Posti, and a 1935 Bugatti Type 57C Convertible, all heavily automobiles in their own right. Ultimately, the winner's stage belonged to Arturo and Debra Keller, whose name was engraved on the Pebble Beach winner's cup for the third time.
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The Autobahn Kurier
With lines about as exaggerated and swoopy as ever seen on a car, the Autobahn Kurier was designed as a prototype and an aerodynamic study for Mercedes-Benz at the time. And only two were built, with this year's Pebble Beach winner now the sole survivor. Powered by a 5.4-liter inline 8-cylinder motor producing an impressive 180 horsepower, the 540K Autobahn Kurier was capable of reaching a top speed of 115 mph, a staggering number for 1938.
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Thoroughbred Winner
The all-black Mercedes is no stranger to winning either. Since undergoing a thorough restoration, it made its first Pebble Beach appearance back in 2006, winning the best-in-class prize. It continued to rack up more trophies over the following years, but none more glamorous than the victory last week at the Concours d'Elegance.
>>Join the conversation about the 540K Autobahn Kurier right here in MBWorld.org
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