1934 MERCEDES BENZ Typ 500 K Cabriolet B (W29) 500 Kompressor

Vehicle Overview

Mercedes-Benz introduced the W29 lineup just before the start of WWII and made it in a few versions, such as the open-top Cabriolet B.

The German automaker was already renowned for its luxurious and powerful vehicles. Even though it wasn’t the most successful brand on the race tracks, its production vehicles were highly appreciated for their performance. Moreover, they were praised for their ride quality and, obviously, their luxurious amenities. They were the epitome of grand touring cars, especially in a country where there were no speed limits on the newly-developed Autobahn (highway) system.

Based on the same chassis as the Spezial-Coupe, the Cabriolet B featured was, actually, an open-top version for that. At the front, the carmaker installed its already famous headlights on a curved horizontal slat mounted in front of the radiator, supported by the curved wheel fenders. A particular feature was for the exhausts, which exited on the engine compartment’s sides. Even though a bumper was not mandatory at those times, the carmaker added one welded on the chassis’ endings. Thanks to the short, tilted windshield, the car offered an aerodynamic shape and a pair of long, front-hinged doors.

The leather-wrapped car interior was carefully crafted to create a luxurious environment. In addition, the wooden dash panel with its center-mounted gauges allowed the driver to constantly monitor the engine’s revs, water temperature, oil pressure, and battery charging. The speedometer was the biggest dial among them, but that was not that important. At least not on the Autobahn.

The car’s underpinnings were shared with the 500 K Spezial-Coupe, featuring a five-speed manual gearbox with a semi-automatic feature. Thanks to its hydraulic brakes, and independent suspension in all corners, the car offered a comfortable ride even at higher speeds.