1934 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Offener Tourenwagen

For all the talk about the 300 SL, there's an unmatched allure around prewar Mercedes-Benz automobiles. This 1934 500 K represents the height of German engineering and is one of five surviving unrestored examples built on the 500 K chassis. This unrestored example spent over 50 years in the same family before being acquired by the current owner in 2005. A supercharged five-liter straight-eight makes 160 horsepower, powering the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. In a bit of infamous history, this car was delivered in late 1934 to Rudolph Hess, Deputy Führer and one of the highest-ranking members of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, better known as the Nazi Party. After his arrest and conviction at the Nuremberg Trials, the car was driven by American GIs before making its way to the United States. With one of the most intriguing provenances and extreme rarity, this car is as much a piece of history as an automobile.

Photos: Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Co.