The story my father recounted about a Mercedes-Benz discovered behind a butcher shop in the UK piqued my interest. It sounded like a captivating automotive mystery, prompting me to delve deeper into the history of this particular car. What I uncovered was the fascinating narrative of a Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster, a vehicle so unique it earned the moniker “the pearl,” a testament to its exquisite pearl dashboard.
The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster stands as a pinnacle of pre-war automotive prestige. Fewer than 30 of these magnificent machines were ever produced. However, the specific Spezial Roadster at the heart of this story had a less glamorous chapter in its history. For 32 years, this automotive jewel was hidden away, immured behind the walls of a British butcher’s shop. While the initial rumors surrounding its discovery were somewhat exaggerated, the true story of “the butcher’s car” is no less compelling.
“The butcher’s car,” as it became known, entered the limelight in the 1980s after its liberation from its decades-long confinement in Walsall, near Birmingham. In 1988, its new owner took it to a Christie’s auction in Beaulieu. Despite being unrestored, retaining its original “barn find” condition, and showing signs of neglect, the roadster fetched a staggering £1,585,000 (equivalent to €3.6 million at the time). This was not only the highest price ever paid for a Mercedes-Benz at auction but also the second-highest price ever recorded for any car worldwide. The sale generated headlines across the globe, cementing the “butcher’s car’s” legendary status.
Prior to this landmark auction, the Mercedes-Benz 500K had been acquired by an antiques dealer for a significantly lower sum. However, securing the car from its previous owner, Arthur Dawson, the butcher, was far from straightforward. Dawson was resolutely unwilling to part with his roadster. Despite years of attempts by a friend and numerous other interested parties, Dawson remained steadfast. Ultimately, an antiques dealer was brought in to negotiate. This dealer, seemingly aware of the car’s true value, finally persuaded the reluctant butcher to sell. Just months later, the dealer reaped a substantial profit at the Christie’s auction, proving his astute understanding of the classic car market.
It’s clear that Arthur Dawson was unaware of the escalating value of classic automobiles, including the Mercedes-Benz 500K he had kept hidden for over three decades. To truly appreciate the significance of “the butcher’s car,” we need to delve into the history of the Spezial Roadster itself.
The captivating design of the Spezial Roadster originated from the drawing board of Friedrich Geiger, a talented young designer under the supervision of Hermann Ahrens, Mercedes-Benz’s design chief at the time. Geiger had joined the prestigious ‘Sonderwagen’ department at Mercedes-Benz in 1933. Later in his career, Geiger would further solidify his design legacy by penning the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” in the 1950s.
Between 1934 and 1936, Mercedes-Benz produced approximately 360 units of the 500K model, with only a small fraction being the highly sought-after Spezial Roadsters.
The advanced chassis of the 500K was the brainchild of technical director Hans Nibel. Building upon the foundations laid by its predecessor, the 380K of 1933, the 500K featured a revolutionary chassis with all-around independent suspension, double wishbones at the front, and coil springs with hydraulic shock absorbers. These innovations were intended to enhance the driving experience. While the 380K, despite its advanced chassis, was not a commercial success due to customer dissatisfaction with its 3.8-liter eight-cylinder engine’s performance, the 500K, utilizing the same groundbreaking chassis, became a resounding triumph. Mercedes-Benz proudly presented the 500K as their new flagship model, addressing the performance concerns with a larger, more potent engine.
The alluring Mercedes-Benz 500K was positioned as one of the most expensive cars of its era, commanding a price of 28,000 Reichsmarks (equivalent to €10,433). In comparison, a standard Mercedes-Benz model cost around 6,000 RM (€2,236) less. Despite its premium price tag, the 500K enjoyed strong sales and was highly regarded by its discerning and affluent clientele.
The Mercedes-Benz 500K also garnered significant appeal among women, likely due to its blend of comfort, speed, and undeniably elegant aesthetics. The roadster attracted a glamorous following, including movie stars, royalty, and even high-ranking Nazi officers.
The 500K was succeeded by the equally successful and even more powerful Mercedes-Benz 540K, continuing the legacy of these grand touring machines.
The “K” in 500K is an abbreviation for “Kompressor,” the German term for supercharger. The Roots-type compressor dramatically boosted the output of the 5-liter eight-cylinder in-line engine by over 50%, increasing power from 100 horsepower to an impressive 160 horsepower (the later 540K model achieved 180 horsepower). During hard acceleration, especially when overtaking slower vehicles like DKWs and Opels, the fuel mixture to the supercharged engine was so rich that the 500K would momentarily leave a cloud of black smoke in its wake.
For high-speed cruising on the burgeoning German Autobahn network, the 500K was equipped with a special “Schnellgang,” or overdrive gear.
The Spezial Roadster was designed as an exceptional long-distance touring car, perfectly suited for comfortable and rapid Autobahn journeys, thanks to its advanced chassis. Modern worm-gear steering made the 500K surprisingly easy to maneuver, and vacuum-assisted brakes on all four wheels provided effective stopping power for such a large vehicle. The massive 110-liter fuel tank was a necessity, given the car’s considerable fuel consumption of approximately 1 liter per 3 kilometers.
“The butcher’s car” is believed to be one of the very few right-hand drive Spezial Roadsters ever produced. The only other known right-hand drive example was a show model displayed at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show in London. The right-hand drive configuration offered an enhanced driving experience, particularly due to the unobstructed view of the striking chrome-plated exhaust pipes running along the right side of the hood, extending nearly half the car’s length.
While the 500K might seem extravagant, it was further elevated by its opulent details, most notably a meticulously crafted dashboard inlaid with genuine pearl, representing the zenith of automotive luxury. “The butcher’s car” is also distinguished by its comprehensive array of styling elements, including long, flowing fenders, an elongated tail, a V-shaped two-piece windshield, and, of course, the signature pearl dashboard.
The extensive use of chrome further accentuated the roadster’s luxurious character. This included the oversized headlights with integrated fog lights, twin chrome horns, spotlights beside the windscreen incorporating rearview mirrors, and even chrome bezels on the wheel balancing weights and bumper mounting holes.
Despite its lavish appointments, the Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster was not merely ostentatious; it was a remarkably elegant and refined example of automotive craftsmanship.
Returning to the specific history of “the butcher’s car,” its first owner was W.L. Quartermaine, a marine insurer from London. He first encountered the car as the show model at the Olympia Motor Show. After a brief ownership period, Quartermaine sold the 500K, reportedly preferring a 12-cylinder Lagonda drophead coupé. Following two more owners, the Spezial Roadster was acquired in 1950 by Arthur Lane, who subsequently sold it to his nephew, Arthur Dawson, the butcher from Walsall. However, after only two years of use, Dawson inexplicably parked the Spezial Roadster in his garage, where it remained untouched for the next 32 years.
The reasons behind Dawson’s decision to sequester this magnificent car after such a short period remain shrouded in mystery.
Possible explanations range from complex technical issues or the car’s high fuel consumption during times of post-war austerity, to concerns about appearing too affluent in a war-ravaged Britain, or simply the social sensitivity of driving a “symbolic German car” so soon after World War II.
“The butcher’s car,” now meticulously restored to its former glory, is a prized exhibit at the Louwman Museum in The Hague. This may well be the final destination for this exceptional Spezial Roadster, now considered one of the “pearls” of the museum’s collection. It was Swedish collector Hans Thulin who acquired the car for £1,585,000 at the Christie’s auction. He commissioned a flawless restoration in Germany, fittingly for a “symbolic German car.” Thulin later sold the roadster to a Japanese collector. In 1994, the magnificently restored Spezial Roadster was showcased at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it earned “Best in Class” honors, though not “Best of Show.”
Unlike the less fortunate French high-class cars discussed in a previous article about stock cars, the butcher’s Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster has enjoyed a happy ending. I found recounting this story immensely enjoyable, and when I eventually visit the Louwman Museum, viewing this particular 500K will be a special experience, knowing its remarkable journey and the extraordinary nature of this automobile.
Written by Rosemarijn Atalante Veenenbos
