The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet C is one of the most fascinating and rare prewar luxury cars ever built, sitting at the very top of German automotive design in the 1930s. Let me walk you through the full story—history, engineering, and cultural context—behind this legendary car:

Historical Context

By the early 1930s, Mercedes-Benz was rebuilding its reputation after the Great Depression. The wealthy elite in Europe and abroad wanted luxury automobiles that symbolized both refinement and cutting-edge technology. Mercedes positioned itself as the premier builder of such cars—lavishly hand-crafted, extremely powerful for their day, and more exclusive than almost any rival.

The 500K was introduced at the Berlin Motor Show in 1934, succeeding the Mercedes-Benz 380. It was built in very limited numbers from 1934–1936 before being replaced by the even more powerful 540K. The “K” in its name stood for Kompressor—German for supercharger.

Engineering & Performance

• Engine: 5.0-liter straight-eight

• Output: 100 hp normally; 160 hp with supercharger engaged

• Supercharger: A Roots-type blower that could be engaged by flooring the accelerator, delivering a surge of power

• Top Speed: Up to 160 km/h (100 mph)—exceptionally fast for the era

• Transmission: 4-speed manual

• Chassis: Sturdy ladder frame with independent suspension (front: wishbones and coil springs; rear: swing axle)

This combination of refinement and raw speed made the 500K one of the most advanced and thrilling luxury cars of its time.

Design & Variants

The 500K was not mass-produced—it was custom coachbuilt. Customers could choose from several body styles, most built by Mercedes’ in-house Sindelfingen coachworks:

• Cabriolet A – Sportiest, two-seater, with elegant flowing lines.

• Cabriolet B – Four-seater, with more upright proportions.

• Cabriolet C – Four-seater with a longer body and more practical rear seating—more restrained than the A but still luxurious.

• Coupés & Roadsters – Very rare, sometimes one-off commissions.

The Cabriolet C stood out because it was more of a grand touring luxury car than a flashy sports model. It had four proper seats, a folding soft top, and a slightly more formal appearance, making it popular among wealthy industrialists, aristocrats, and even diplomats who wanted both prestige and usability.

Cultural Significance

Owning a Mercedes-Benz 500K in 1935 was essentially a statement of power, wealth, and status. At the time, it rivaled Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, and Rolls-Royce at the top of the luxury ladder. The Cabriolet C was particularly suited for wealthy clients who wanted elegance without going into the more flamboyant Cabriolet A or special-bodied versions.

Only about 342 units of the 500K (all variants combined) were ever built, and the Cabriolet C makes up just a fraction of that number. Each car was hand-built, meaning no two were completely alike.

Legacy & Collectability

Today, the 500K Cabriolet C is a highly prized collector’s car, often appearing at Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este, and top-tier auctions. Values are typically in the multi-million-dollar range (depending on originality, provenance, and body style).

It represents:

• The peak of German prewar automotive luxury

• A blend of engineering excellence and bespoke craftsmanship

• A snapshot of the 1930s elite lifestyle

In short:
The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet C was not just a car—it was a rolling work of art and engineering masterpiece, designed for the world’s most powerful people. It balanced luxury with cutting-edge performance, offering the ability to cruise with dignity or unleash the supercharger for exhilarating speed.

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet C — the essentials

What it is. The Cabriolet C is the four-seat, “blind-quarter” convertible body on Mercedes’ W29 500K chassis. Under the long hood sits a supercharged 5.0-liter straight-eight (“Kompressor”) good for ~150 hp when the blower is engaged; chassis tech included a tubular frame, independent front suspension and a swing-axle rear, built for sustained high-speed touring on the new autobahns. Only about 90 Cabriolet C bodies were built out of ~342 total 500K chassis. Marque historians estimate ~20 Cabriolet C survive today, ~16 in original LHD.

Notable surviving examples & owners

• Chassis 113715 (Cabriolet C, LHD) — Delivered 12 Oct 1935 to a Hamburg client; later discovered with Ohio collector Izzy DuPont (DuPont family). Restored 1984–85 by Hill & Vaughn (Phil Hill involved), Pebble Beach class winner (1985), then used by Mercedes-Benz for its centennial celebrations.

• Chassis 113658 (Cabriolet C, LHD) — Delivered new to Switzerland; known, matching-numbers car sold at Bonhams’ Chantilly Sale (2015).

Auction & market history (Cabriolet C focus)

• RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 — Ch. 113715: sold $692,500. Listing confirms the production/survivor counts above and the Hill & Vaughn restoration/Pebble provenance.

• Bonhams, The Chantilly Sale 2015 — Ch. 113658: sold €609,500 (≈$679k).

• Goodwood/Mercedes-Benz Sale 2016 — Cabriolet C: one example offered/not sold (useful for range-setting on condition/sentiment).

(Context: open 500K Cabriolet A and one-off coachbuilt 500Ks can trade much higher; the Cabriolet C sits mid-pack in desirability because it balances usability (4 seats) with elegant Sindelfingen styling.)

Why the Cabriolet C matters

• Flagship engineering of the era. A blown straight-eight, 4-speed gearbox and sophisticated chassis put the 500K in Duesenberg/Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental company as a genuine 100-mph-class grand tourer.

• Coachbuilt presence, practical layout. The “blind-quarter” Cabriolet C combines the drama of the long-fender Sindelfingen style with a 2+2/four-seat touring cabin—rarer than it looks, and far scarcer today than its total build suggests.

• Proven provenance. Pebble Beach wins, DuPont-family ownership and Mercedes-Benz centennial use give the best Cabriolet Cs blue-chip paper trails, which is why well-documented cars continue to draw strong international bidding.