An Autobahn Kurier in the snow

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We consider it quite likely that you will have seen this beautiful picture before, but believe that every chance to show it is worth the effort. For what a great image it is! The car is, of course, the Mercedes-Benz 540K ‘Autobahn Kurier’ with its mighty blown eight-cylinder engine and dramatic streamliner body from Sindelfingen. Note the snow chains on the rear tyres.

Mercedes-Benz 540K

The man in front of it is ‘eye doctor’ Professor Ignacio Barraquer of Barcelona on his travels. When he took delivery of the car in 1938 he, together with his wife Josefa, drove it straight over to Alexandria in Egypt, crossing Libya and much of the Sahara desert, only to have it shipped back to Barcelona again. After the War the couple continued grand touring their streamlined 540K, including a drive through Austria and Switzerland in 1951, and this picture may well have been made during that trip. We wondered if somebody here knows the exact location. There must have been — and still are — many hotels named Mirabeau but this one may just be recognisable?

Oh, and the Barraquer family kept the Mercedes for decades. They eventually sold it in 2003, when it was restored in the UK before going to the US and scooping several concours awards soon after. We doubt it will ever see snow chains again.

Words Jeroen Booij. Picture Revista Barraquer.

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