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Here we offer one of the most extraordinary 1930s-origin Mercedes-Benz high-performance quality cars that we haveever beencommissioned to present. It began life in 1938 as one of the renownedGerman company's most exotic and highest-quality models – a 540Kwith Sindelfingen Cabriolet B coachwork bought new as prestige VIPtransport for the original Volkswagenwerke 'VW Beetle' programme. Itwas then, in 1942-43, requisitioned as one of only twenty such 540Ksrequisitioned for the Third Reich's emergency Aktion P VIP armouredsaloon car programme – under which it was issued not to any onehigh-ranking individual personality, but instead to the ReichskanzellerieBerlin Motor Pool for use by all. After surviving the war – today as oneof only three known Aktion Ps to have done so – it went on to have anextremely positive effect upon at least one young life, and in part itsextraordinary story reads like the basis of a Hollywood movie script. Thecar is offered here in its surviving extensively dismantled and unrestored– yet largely complete – state, bearing the patina and evidence of morethan a half century of 'barn-find' storage.Until 1942 the progress of the Second World War in Europe had beenin favour of Hitler's Third Reich. Thereafter the flow reversed in favourof the Allied democracies as the combined forces of Great Britain, theUnited States and the USSR began to wield their combined capability interms of men, manufacturing capacity, money and will.The Mercedes-Benz 540K Aktion P programme was triggered by theassassination – on May 27,1942 – of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer ReinhardHeydrich, fatally injured by anattacker's hand grenade while riding aspassenger in an open staff car upon the streets of Prague. Hitler wasboth devastated by the loss of a man he regarded as an increasinglyimportant, plainly like-minded executive officer, and enraged by thecareless manner in which he had made himself so vulnerable to partisanattack, by riding in a conspicuous car which was not only wide open,but also unescorted.According to the contemporary report of the Fuhrer's Secretary,Martin Bormann, Hitler immediately ordered that a new fleet of highperformancearmoured vehicles should be provided to protect "...themost important political personalities". This was the foundation of whatswung into action as the Aktion P programme, the 'P' initial standing for'Panzer' – armour.Bormann pushed through Aktion P, ordering Daimler-Benz – which, ofcourse,had becomea major military vehicle and engine manufacturersupplying the NSDAP German Government – to build ten of its 770 W150 model four-passenger armoured saloons, eleven more 770 W 150seven/eight-passenger convertible saloons and two four/five passengersaloons. All were to be protected with armour plate and armouredwindow glass.Motor Cars | 301