The baron's famous Benz – and his later Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz's mighty 540K was introduced in 1936, and we believe this photograph dates from around that time. The newly acquired 540K is said to have just been delivered to its owner, Baron Theodor von Liebieg, who was keen to have it photographed alongside one of his other prized possessions: an 1894 Benz Victoria.

That particular Benz had already achieved a measure of fame thanks to the Baron's remarkably ambitious journey from Mannheim to Gondorf in 1894, a distance of some 940 kilometres. It is believed that no one had previously attempted such a journey in a motor car of this kind. Von Liebieg did not stop there, however, continuing with a detour through the Moselle region before eventually returning to Mannheim. Along the way, Benz & Co. provided the necessary support, carrying out a thorough inspection midway through the trip. Later, after the Victoria suffered a breakdown during an extended stay in the Moselle valley, a mechanic was dispatched to carry out the required repairs.

Entries in von Liebieg's diary from the summer of 1894 begin with the words: "We chose a vehicle that would free us from inconvenience and allow us to travel independently. It was the petrol motor car of the ingenious Benz in Mannheim." Later he wrote: "On Sunday, we started our journey home again, accompanied by the whole Benz family, who travelled with us as far as Gernsheim. Over the last bottle of Moselle, we said our goodbyes, and after photographing the cars, we continued alone towards Offenbach." By the end of the tour, von Liebieg and his Benz had covered around 2,500 kilometres.

We understand that the Baron's original Benz is now on display at the Technical Museum in Prague. But where did the later 540K end up?

Words: Jeroen Booij
Pictures: Mercedes-Benz AG

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