Makes › Mercedes-Benz › 540 › 540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) · Prototype · 1938 One-off

Mercedes-Benz
540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner)

One-off streamlined 540 K built for tyre testing

1BuiltFactory reported

0Chassis documentedin this archive

?SurvivingNot yet verified

Contents

01Overview
02Production & history
03Specifications
- Technical specifications
04Colours & options
- Factory colours & interiors
- Factory options & codes
05Individual cars
06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built: 1 Built
Years: 1938
Engine: Front-mounted supercharged straight-eight (M 24 II), OHV · 5,401 cc / 5.4 LFactory: 5,401 cc
Power: 134 kW / 182 PSFactory: 180 hp · converted
Top speed: 185 km/hFactory: 185 km/h
Body: Not yet verified
Designer: Hermann Ahrens
In this archive: Not yet verified
Surviving: Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 540 K Stromlinienwagen is a single streamlined car built on the supercharged 540 K chassis in 1938. Its aerodynamic duraluminium body raised the top speed of the 5.4-litre eight to 185 km/h.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityOne-off 1 · Built^1,2

Specification rarityNot yet assessed

Colour rarityNot yet assessed

Individual rarityNot yet assessed

Historical rarityNot yet assessed

Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen)
Photo: Guywelch2000 · CC BY 4.0
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen)
Photo: Thesupermat · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen)
Photo: Thesupermat · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) (Wikimedia Commons: Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen)
Photo: Thesupermat · CC BY-SA 4.0

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is counted	Figure	Basis	Status
Total model productioncar built	1^1,2	Factory production	Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Built in Germany in 1938 to a design attributed to Hermann Ahrens, the streamliner used the standard 540 K running gear: a supercharged 5,401 cc straight-eight, four-speed gearbox and pressed-steel frame with independent suspension. Its body was made of duraluminium panels over an ash frame. The car carries chassis number 189399.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine family	Not yet verified
Engine code	M 24 II¹
Layout	Front-mounted supercharged straight-eight (M 24 II), OHV³ Independently researched
Cylinders	8¹
Displacement	5,401 cc / 5.4 LFactory: 5,401 cc³ Independently researched
Bore	88 mmFactory: 88 mm¹
Stroke	111 mmFactory: 111 mm¹
Compression ratio	5.2:1 (depending on fuel, up to 6.5:1)¹
Valvetrain	1 intake and 1 exhaust valve per cylinder, overhead; 1 lateral camshaft driven via spur gears¹
Fuel system	1 Mercedes-Benz twin updraught carburettor¹
Induction	Engageable Roots supercharger¹
Power	134 kW / 182 PSFactory: 180 hp · converted³ Independently researchedSource states bhp.
Power at	3,400 rpm³ Independently researched
Torque	260 NmFactory: 260 Nm¹Torque is given over a speed range of 2700 - 4200 rpm.

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox	Four-speed manual³ Independently researched
Gears	4¹
Gear ratios	I: 3.90; II: 2.88; III: 1.45; IV: 1.0¹
Final drive	2.90¹
Driven wheels	Rear wheels¹

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassis	Box-section pressed-steel low-bed frame¹
Front suspension	Double wishbone with coil springs¹
Rear suspension	Swing axle with double coil springs¹
Brakes	Hydraulic with Bosch-Dewandre vacuum booster on front and rear wheels; mechanical parking brake on rear wheels¹
Steering	Worm-and-nut steering¹
Body construction	Lightweight aluminium body developed through wind tunnel testing⁴ Independently researched
Materials	Aluminium body; enclosed underbody⁴ Independently researched
Wheelbase	3,290 mmFactory: 3,290 mm¹
Length	5,500 mmFactory: 5,500 mm¹
Width	1,950 mmFactory: 1,950 mm¹
Height	1,680 mmFactory: 1,680 mm¹
Front track	Not yet verified
Rear track	Not yet verified
Kerb weight	2,420 kgFactory: 2,420 kg¹
Dry weight	1,800 kgFactory: 1,800 kg¹Weight of the bare chassis as stated by the archive.

Performance

Maximum speed	185 km/hFactory: 185 km/h³ Independently researched
0–100 km/h	Not yet verified
Fuel tank	110 LFactory: 110 L¹Source states l.
Fuel consumption	29 L/100kmFactory: 29 L/100km¹Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 29 l

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Being verified against factory or registry sources before it is published. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1
540 K Streamliner / W 29, 1938 Level A Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
- Units produced : 1
- Engine type : M 24 II (Specifications)
- Number of cylinders / arrangement : 8 / in line (Specifications)
- Bore x Stroke : 88 x 111 mm (Specifications)
- Compression ratio : 5.2; depending on fuel, up to 6.5 (Specifications)
- Valve operation : 1 lateral camshaft; Camshaft drive : via spur gears (Specifications)
- Fuel system : 1 twin updraught carburettor Mercedes-Benz (Specifications)
- carburettor engine with engageable Roots supercharger (Specifications)
- Rated torque : 260 Nm at 2700 - 4200 rpm (Specifications)
- Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (Specifications)
- Gear ratios : I. 3.90; II. 2.88; III. 1.45; IV. 1.0 (Specifications)
- Final drive ratio : 2.90 (Specifications)
- Driven wheels : rear wheels (Specifications)
- Frame design : box-section pressed-steel low-bed frame (Specifications)
- Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone; Front springs : coil springs (Specifications)
- Rear-wheel suspension : swing axle ...; Rear springs : double coil springs (Specifications)
- Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic, with Bosch-Dewandre vacuum booster (Specifications)
- Steering : worm-and-nut steering (Specifications)
- Wheelbase : 3290 mm (Specifications)
- Length : 5500 mm (Specifications)
- Width : 1950 mm (Specifications)
- Height : 1680 mm (Specifications)
- Kerb weight : 2420 kg (Specifications)
- Chassis weigth : 1800 kg (Specifications)
- Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 110 l (Specifications)
- Fuel consumption : 29 l (Specifications)
Accessed 2026-11-12
2
1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner Specifications - Ultimatecarpage.com Level C
- 1 car built
Accessed 2026-11-11
3
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner specifications Level C Ultimatecarpage.com
- Straight-8 (M 24 II), front, longitudinal
- 5,401 cc
- 180 bhp (134 kW) at 3,400 rpm
- at 3,400 rpm
- 4-speed manual
- 185 km/h (115 mph)
Accessed 2026-11-12
4
1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Stromlinienwagen Level B Petersen Automotive Museum
- lightweight aluminum body developed through wind tunnel testing
- lightweight aluminum body ... enclosed underbody
Accessed 2026-11-12

Research coverage

Production figures1 recorded

Technical data34 verified values

Factory coloursNot yet researched

Option codesNot yet researched

Chassis documented0 of 1

Photographs4

Shows what this archive has recorded so far – not how much of the history is known.

Editorial status

Reviewed · 2026-11-11

Revision history (4)

2026-11-11 Basic profile published from discovery research; production figure re-checked against its source page.
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (10 values).
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (29 values).
2026-11-12 Research gaps filled from sources (1 values).

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Mercedes-Benz
540 K Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner)

At a glance

Why it matters

How rare is it?

Photos

Production

History

Variants