Mercedes-Benz 500K

The Mercedes-Benz 500K, type W29, was a grand touring car built by Mercedes-Benz from 1934 to 1936 and first shown at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show. The K stands for Kompressor, the German word for supercharger: a Roots supercharger, engaged by pressing the throttle fully down, lifted its five-litre straight-eight to as much as 160 horsepower and a speed above 160 km/h. It succeeded the 380 and kept that car's independent suspension, with a double wishbone front axle and swing axle at the rear, which made it more comfortable and better handling than the S, SS and SSK roadsters before it. Three chassis and eight body styles were offered, and 342 cars were built before the 540K followed.