No one who has heard a supercharged Mercedes-Benz of the Classic Era is ever likely to forget it.

A Valkyrie’s cry, some say.

Wagnerian, say others.

Faustian has been suggested too.

No other car in the world sounded quite like it...There can be no doubt that the 500 K made a bold statement, in both styling and performance.

Daimler-Benz was bold enough to promote the model as ‘the fastest touring car in the world’ – without offending truth in advertising.

There are cars which can stir one’s soul – and this is indeed among them.

- Beverly Rae Kimes, The Classic Car , Spring 1986 The 500 K Mercedes-Benz was the German equivalent to the Duesenberg Model J or the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental—a car built specifically for high-speed autobahn travel.

Its supercharged inline-eight produced some 150 horsepower and was mounted to a tubular steel chassis inspired by its manufacturer’s Grand Prix offerings, enabling both swift speed and excellent driving manners for the period.

Surro...