MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPECIAL ROADSTER — Vintage Transportation Poster

MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPECIAL ROADSTER

Daimler-Benz / 1936-1940 / Das Beste oder Nichts

The Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster was the ultimate expression of German automotive luxury in the 1930s. With its long pontoon fenders, exposed spare wheel, and low-cut doors, it combined sporting performance with aristocratic elegance. The 540K’s 5.4-liter inline-8 engine produced 180 horsepower with the supercharger engaged, enough to propel the car past 100 mph. It was hand-built at the Sindelfingen coachworks, where master craftsmen spent months shaping each body from sheet metal. Only 419 540Ks were built, and only 29 were Special Roadsters. They were the cars of industrialists, film stars, and aristocrats who wanted the best that Germany could produce. Today a Special Roadster can sell for over $10 million. Manufacturer Daimler-Benz AG — PAGE 29 — Planes, Trains & Automobiles — Vintage Poster Collection Page 29 Production 1936-1940 Engine 5.4L inline-8 (180 HP supercharged) Produced 419 total / 29 Special Roadsters Top Speed 110+ mph Current Value $10+ million Coachwork Sindelfingen Tagline Das Beste oder Nichts [ Infographic page: Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster — insert full-color spread ] HISPANO-SUIZA J12 Hispano-Suiza / 1931-1938 / L’Avion des Routes The Hispano-Suiza J12 was known as ‘L’Avion des Routes’ — the airplane of the roads. Its 9.4-liter V12 engine was derived from Hispano-Suiza’s aircraft engines, and its legendary mascot, La Cigogne (the stork), paid homage to the company’s aviation heritage. The J12 was the ultimate expression of Franco-Spanish luxury. Its coachwork was executed by the finest Parisian firms: Chapron, Fernandez & Darrin, and Vanvooren. Each car was a unique creation, tailored to the tastes of clients who included kings, diplomats, and industrialists. The stork mascot, wings outstretched, was a symbol of the squadron insignia of the French ace Georges Guynemer. It represented speed, grace, and the union of aviation and automotive engineering. The J12 was not merely a car; it was a flying machine for the road. Manufacturer Hispano-Suiza (France/Spain) Production 1931-1938 Engine 9.4L V12 (220 HP) Mascot La Cigogne (the stork) Coachbuilders Chapron, Fernandez & Darrin, Vanvooren Tagline L’Avion des Routes Heritage Aircraft engine manufacturer — PAGE 30 — Planes, Trains & Automobiles — Vintage Poster Collection Page 30 TALBOT-LAGO T150 CSS TEARDROP Talbot-Lago / 1937-1939 / Coachbuilt Sculpture The Talbot-Lago T150 CSS Teardrop is considered by many experts to be the most beautiful car ever created. Its body was designed and built by Figoni et Falaschi, the Parisian coachbuilders who transformed automobiles into rolling sculpture. The Teardrop’s body was formed from aluminum over a wooden buck, a process that took thousands of hours. The result was a shape of almost liquid beauty, with pontoon fenders that flowed into the running boards and a dorsal fin that rose from the rear deck like a shark’s fin. Only sixteen Teardrops were built, and each one is unique. They have won every major concours award, including Pebble Beach and Villa d’Este. They represent the absolute pinnacle of prewar French coachbuilding. Manufacturer Talbot-Lago Coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi Production 1937-1939 Engine 4.0L inline-6 (140 HP) Produced 16 Teardrops Notable Awards Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este Current Value $10+ million AUBURN 851 SPEEDSTER Auburn Automobile Company / 1935-1936 / Sunshine and Speed The Auburn 851 Speedster was the ultimate American sporting car of the 1930s. With its boat-tail rear, exposed supercharger pipes, and straight-8 engine producing 280 horsepower, it was a speedster in the truest sense of the word. The 851 was designed by Gordon Buehrig, who would later create the Cord 810. Its long hood, sweeping fenders, and boat-tail rear made it one of the most dramatic automobiles of the era. The supercharger’s whine and the exhaust’s bark announced its presence before it was seen. Only 100 Speedsters were built in 1935-36, and they were priced at $2,245 — a fortune in the Depression, but a bargain for the performance and style they delivered. Today they are — PAGE 31 — Planes, Trains & Automobiles — Vintage Poster Collection Page 31 among the most collectible Auburns, a symbol of American optimism in dark times. Manufacturer Auburn Automobile Company

Edition: Limited to 50 hand-numbered prints

Print Size: 24 x 36 inches

Paper: Museum-grade archival pigment print

Finish: Premium UV-protective coating

Frame: Modern Black – 3/4″ slim moulding profile with 1/4″ recess gap

Backing: Acid-free mounting board, custom hooks

Ready: Arrives ready to hang

COA: Hand-numbered Certificate of Authenticity mailed separately

Created by George G. for Angelic Dreamz

Shipping: Free shipping to the continental USA.
Weight: 4 lbs | Dimensions: 24″ L x 24″ W x 4″ H