The dramatic 500 K was introduced at the Berlin Automobile Show in 1934. A successor to the 380 model, it was named for its large 5.0-liter engine. The “K” in the model designation stands for the German word kompressor, indicating that the inline-8 engine is equipped with a supercharger. Bodies were designed and constructed by Mercedes-Benz’s in-house coachbuilder, Sindelfingen, and were available in a wide variety of styles. Of the 419 chassis built, a mere 29 were fitted with long-tail Special Roadster coachwork. 

Designed to be operated by its owner, rather than by a chauffeur, the 500 K was both elegant and revolutionary. With its quality construction and efficient engineering, it could be driven without extensive mechanical knowledge, reflecting the growing popularity of the automobile among an increasingly modern public. While some 500 Ks remained chauffeur-driven, the arrangement was primarily limited to enclosed body styles. Independently minded women, a rapidly growing category of automobile owners, numbered among 500 K drivers.