Mercedes-Benz 540K Stromlinienwagen (1938)

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Stromlinienwagen. Made in Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz 540K Stromlinienwagen was originally conceived for competition in an upcoming race from Berlin to Rome. The race never occurred due to the outbreak of WWII. The car was instead used for high speed tire testing by Dunlop.

The body was completely made from aluminum which cut the weight down to about 5000 lbs. The body of the car was aerodynamically designed to allow for air to flow as efficiently as possible from the front to the rear. To further allow the car to be as aerodynamic as possible, the windshield is curved, the headlights are integrated into the front fenders, there are minimal gaps between the body panels, the door handles are recessed, the bumpers are omitted, and the under body is completely paneled.

Silver is the traditional colour of Mercedes-Benz racing cars.

The car had a supercharged, 5.4L, in-line, 8 cylinder motor capable of 185HP. Top speed was about 116 MPH.