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Mercedes-Benz 630K De Ville Castagna

Chassis

#36278

The Mercedes-Benz 630K Sedanca De Ville Castagna chassis 36278.

Vehicle Overview

The Mercedes-Benz 630K Sedanca Castagna, represents a rare application of custom European coachwork on a high-performance German chassis of the interwar period. Built on chassis number 36278, this example was delivered with a formal town car body featuring an enclosed rear passenger compartment and open chauffeur’s position, consistent with the Limousine de Ville configuration. The Type 630 K (“K” denoting “Kurz,” or short wheelbase) was based on the earlier Mercedes 630 model developed in the mid-1920s by Ferdinand Porsche. The model employed a 6,240 cc inline six-cylinder engine, supercharged via a Roots-type blower engaged under full throttle. The Kompressor system raised output from approximately 100 to 160 horsepower, offering significant performance for a vehicle of this class. The chassis featured rigid axles front and rear, semi-elliptical leaf springs, and mechanical brakes. Fewer than 100 examples of the 630 K variant were constructed between 1926 and 1932, with a portion of these chassis delivered to independent coachbuilders in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The Castagna-bodied example on chassis 36278 is among a very limited number with Milanese provenance. The coachwork incorporated the firm’s characteristic design cues, including pronounced beltlines, swept fender contours, and an upright formal roofline. Chassis 36278 was delivered new by Mercedes-Benz in New York City on November 5, 1929, to Robert Crawford of 745 Seventh Avenue, days after the collapse of the U.S. stock market. Shortly thereafter, the car was acquired by Charles Murray of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its early use alternated between New York and Oklahoma. Over the decades, the vehicle underwent changes that included the replacement of its original disc wheels with later-style wire wheels and the loss of its original interior, which had been finished to a notably high standard. By the early 21st century, the car was located in California and consigned to auction, most recently at the 2020 Quail Lodge Motorcar Auction by Bonhams, where it was offered with a high estimate but did not sell. The vehicle remains a singular surviving example of the Mercedes-Benz 630K Sedanca Castagna.

Technical Specifications

  • Body
  • Year
    1928
  • Make
    Mercedes-Benz
  • Model
    630K
  • Coachbuilder
    Castagna
  • Length (mm)
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  • Width (mm)
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  • Height (mm)
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  • Units built
    1
  • Engine Type
    6L
  • Make
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  • Model
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  • Cylinder Capacity
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  • Number Of Doors
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  • Six Month Rate
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  • Date Of First Registration
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  • Year Of Manufacture
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  • CO2 Emissions
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  • Tax Status
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  • Transmission
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  • Colour
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  • Type Approval
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  • Wheel Plan
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  • Revenue Weight
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  • Make
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  • Fuel Type
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  • Tax Status
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  • Colour
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  • Type Approval
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  • Wheel Plan
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  • Revenue Weight
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  • DESIGNER
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