Description
For sale in our forthcoming auction in Paris, on 17 June 2019:
French title
Chassis number 00000003
- Exceptional, fully documented work
- Magnificent condition, runs superbly
- Only three owners
- Built for Jacky Setton
The Mercedes 540 K Spezial Roadster is an automotive masterpiece; as well as being extremely expensive, it is rare and examples of it only come up for sale very occasionally. This explains the desire of Franco Sbarro, the imaginative and talented Swiss coachbuilder, to produce a replica of it, which he proceeded to do in the 1980s. These cars were built with the utmost care and the concern to remain as faithful as possible to the original version. For this model built for Jacky Setton (who owned one of the finest collections of sports and racing cars in France, captured for posterity in Hervé Poulain's book, Une Collection d'avance), Sbarro received authorisation from Mercedes to use the firm's three-pointed star, stating in a letter: "Mercedes gave us its consent to produce this model, which explains how it could be officially registered as a Mercedes." A copy of the car's first title, in the name of Jack Setton, is present in the history file. It is an exceptional situation, which can be understood given the quality of the car and the fact that it makes use in particular of mechanical components from a 500 SE such as the transmission, 240bhp 5-litre V8 engine and all-round disc brakes. The body was made from fibreglass and its svelte lines are true to the original. Special care was taken with details such as the instruments with white faces set on a machine-turned aluminium dashboard, the spot lamps to the side surmounted by rear-view mirrors, the imposing radiator grille flanked by huge headlamps or the red leather upholstery …
With a total of only eight cars built, this model is especially rare. It has had only three owners: Jacky Setton, a collector in the South of France from 1990 to 2015 and since then the current owner. He has been particularly demanding and has spared no expense to maintain this magnificent roadster in impeccable condition and to keep it running as sweetly as may be expected of such a machine.
In reality, it combines the best of both worlds: the exceptional beauty of the original 540 K and the ease of use conferred by its modern mechanicals, for a tenth of the price. But you should make the most of this occasion, as it is truly a rare sight on the market …
Auction estimate: €180 000 / 260 000
To see all the pictures available: - details above
