The Mercedes-Benz 540 K of the Dr Barraquer triumphs in the Concurs d'Emagance de Pebble Beach

If a few weeks ago, the Barraquer clinic in Barcelona was news because it received by surprise the visit of the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris.Now, just a few days ago, the name of Barraquer sounds again in the United States, as its founder, Ignacio Barraquer was the holder until 2004 of the Mercedes Benz 540 K Autobahn Kurier that has raised the victory in the 70th edition of the exclusive"CONCOURS D'Elegance" by Pebble Beach held this last August on the occasion of the Monterey Car Week in California.

The classic North American event once again gathered the cream and cream of the world of collecting.Not in vain is one of the great dating of the international calendar in the motor world, one of those that are capable of gathering the most exclusive and important models of large brands both in relation to classic cars and contemporary cars.

The Pebble Beach contest seeks to reward the most exclusive and better preserved model that is presented every year and, this time they have undoubtedly chosen a model that really is.

The AMG GT of the 30s

If we trace a comparative temporal line, the Mercedes-Benz 540 K would be the equivalent in the late 30s of the last century of the Mercedes-Benzamg GT of the present.A car that already exceeded 200 km/h at the time still imperfect German highways and that had a certainly spectacular and striking design that continues to concite almost 100 years later all eyes wherever it happens where it happens.

The 540 K set up the one that was then the most powerful engine of the star brand, an 8 online cylinders of 5.4 liters of capacity that developed 115 hp of power, modest figure today, but certainly high for the time.The K of his name towards reference to the "kompressor" Eaton roots that accompanied him, whose function was to increase the volume of gasoline in times of acceleration very specific, which allowed the "Autobah Kurier" to go from delivering 115 hp to contribute nothingless than 180 hp.

Supercharged by compressor

He did it for a few seconds, the time it took to discharge from fuel a small fuel tank where the necessary amount was accumulated for the compressor to exert its function when the driver stepped on the accelerator pedal thoroughly.When lifting it, the compressor stopped working and waiting to see the small tank recharged again to be available again.

El Mercedes-Benz 540 K del Dr Barraquer triunfa en el Concours d'Elegance de Pebble Beach

Why take those breaths?If not, the high power delivered by the eight cylindros would terminate for twisting the long crankshaft as if it were a sack, since the materials of the time did not give for more.

To get an idea, at the time the fastest transport that had put themselves at the service of mail services to allow correspondence to reach their destination as soon as possible.This model received the nickname of "Autobahn Kurier", the "Motor of the Highway", a simile to the mail train that transported cards and package quickly among the main posts.

Of the 6 units produced only this survives

In 1938, the vast majority of manufacturers of this type of models produced only the rolling base of it, their chassis, being the buyers who subsequently chose a prestigious body to "dress" their unit and make it a model the mostexclusive possible.Mercedes Benz herself sometimes assumed this type of work and one of them were the 6 units of Autobahn Kurier that came to produce among the 761 units that came to manufacture the 500 series in the Sindelfingen factory.

Of these 6 units of the model, only 2 were floats in this way and of them, only the one that arrived in the late 30s at the hands of the prestigious Doctor Barraquer, who in addition to the prestigious world -renowned ophthalmologist was a great car fan was a car fan..Ignacio Barraquer had a 1910 Ford T, a 1920 Stutz, a 1913 Sunbeam, an Alfa Romeo Rl Racing 'Targa Florio' of 1922 and a 1923 Swiss Hispanic H6B.After the inauguration of its prestigious clinic began to be interested in the Mercedes-Benz, especially after in 1939 a client grateful for its services gave him the 540 k Autobahn Kurier, a model that he kept throughout his life and that was taken to auction by auctionHis heirs in 2010.

It was not a gift, but a purchase

Different legends circulate on the car.Since it was Hitler himself who gave the car to Dr. Barraquer, others point to a German government minister who the doctor operated from his eyes saving his sight when others had predicted his total blindness.Or the very unique version that it was an Arab sheikh who gave it to the same reason.None of them is true.Joaquín Barraquer, son of the ophthalmologist, would explain in his day that it was his father who fell in love with the car while working in Germany, period during which he reached his hands...After paying it from your own pocket.

It would not be his last Mercedes Benz, because in 1953 he bought what would be his last model of the star of La Estrella, a 300 S Coupé that would also retain until his death in his prestigious collection, where as we have seen he came to gather some of theGreat automotive jewels.

Won strong rivals

Returning to Pebble Beach, the 70th edition of its prestigious Concurs d'Elegance held this last August also brought together many jewels of the past and present of automotive.In the final of the contest, the 540 k Autobahn Kurier exceeded a Ferrari 365 Pininfarna of 1967, to a Maserati 450 s Zagato Coupé of 1957 and to a whole Bugatti Type 57c of 1935, to rise with the final triumph.

It is not the first time that the car is presented in the prestigious contest.He already did it in 2006, when after a complete restoration he also managed to get into the grand final, although he failed to win it.If he did in 2008, when he won the contest in Villa Erb.His last great recorded victory has been in the Concours d'Amelia's Island elegance in 2019.

And now, in 2021, the car with Dr Barraquer surprised its neighbors circulating through the streets of Barcelona in the middle of the last century, has been the winner of this prestigious contest, in which modern jewels ofThe automotive as a reinterpretation of the Countach LPI 800-4 with which Lamborghini celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first prototype of its popular Support, or the most recent Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider, 1.140 hp of power.