1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K - Replica/Kit Makes

1937 Mercedes-Benz Replica Roadster

1984 Handcraft Magnum 540K.

Number 1 of 2 built by Handcraft Motorcar Company in Bradenton, FL on 6/24/1985.

It has a 5.0 V8 302ci Ford Motor, auto transmission, rack and pinion power steering, power brakes, power windows, air conditioner and heater, Bridge of Weir all leather interior, Wilton 100% wool carpet, leather trim by "Zebo", Padauk wood dash, AM-FM Stereo cassette by Alpine, Haartz cloth convertible top, Haartz cloth wheel covers, and Nardi wood rim steering wheel. The overall cosmetic condition is very good considering that the car is over 35 years old with original paint and interior. The paint has some age and flaws and the seats show some wear but still looks very nice.

The only flaws I’m aware of are a small crack in the windshield and the radio doesn’t work. The AC comes on but may need a charge, The power windows go up and down but are slow.

Car weighs around 3800 pounds, nice and solid at 16 feet long. Has the two piece hood, dual trumpets, dual dummy spot lights, dual side mirrors mounted on the dual chrome side covers, and center cowl lamp.

The car had sat for many years prior to my purchase in 2016 and needed several items to get it running right. I replaced the radiator, starter, hoses ignition module, all the fluids, spark wires & plugs, tires. The car drove like an almost new car when I finished. I drove it for a little more than a thousand trouble-free miles but haven’t used it much and I didn’t drive it at all last year mostly because of Covid. I decided since I’m not driving it, I should just sell it. When I went to start it after its year-long rest, it started right up and still runs fine.

I have lots of documentation about the car. It is number one of only two built. The story I was told was that between Mercedes claiming copyright infringements and the US government telling him they needed test vehicles they decided not to build any more cars other than the two they had completed. They changed the name from Mercedes to Magnum and didn’t display any Mercedes Logos or script on the cars. This car was in storage for many years, I don’t know anything about the second one that they built other than there is a picture of it in one of the ads.

This car was appraised at $75,000 back in 2012 and I have a copy of the Appraisal included with the paper work along with original sales brochures, the original cost of car back in 1984/1985 was $65000.

Additional photos:

Buyer is responsible for all shipping costs. Car is located in Leander Texas,