1936 Mercedesbenz 540k Two Tone Silver Roadster

The 1936 Mercedes Benz ‘Benzino’ Roadster described herein represented an absolutely outstanding example of a completely unique Street Rod conversion.

The story of how this unique, one off Street Rod came to be goes back forty years to the mid sixties when a company tried unsuccessfully to produce 2/3 scale 1936 Mercedes Benz SSK Roadster kit cars.
Almost a couple of decades ago Mr. Tummino found one of these abandoned kit car bodies, and had the brilliant idea to convert it into a custom Street Rod. Eight years and almost $200,00.00 later, he was asked to exhibit his amazing creation at the prestigious invitation only Blackies customs cars show in Freson, California.

This Mercedes was previously owned by WWE professional wrestler and actor John Cena. I can provide paperwork showing the ownership history. 

This ’36 Mercedes Benz roadster now features a high performance fuel injected motor, a four speed automatic transmission, power four wheel disc brakes, rack & pinion steering, air conditioning, power windows, solenoid activated doors, power operated interior storage compartment, a power operated trunk, a luxury all leather upholstered interior, a sophisticated state of the art multi speaker CD stereo system as well as an outstanding two tone silver exterior paint scheme.

As noted on the extensive Street Rod Conversion pages, and as depicted on the many enclosed digital photographs, this one-off custom designed Show Car was custom fabricated using the finest components available and has won numerous 1st place regional car shows and received the Top Personal Choice Vehicle Award on the Featured Category Awards at the 2024 Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.

The caliber of all work performed on this irreplaceable vehicle is of the absolute highest quality, the entire vehicle is both highly detailed as well as being extremely well finished.

Equipment:  Custom chrome front bumper, Chrome front bumper brackets, Custom chrome grille, Custom grille shell, ’39 Chevrolet headlights, Adjure light inserts, Custom turn signals, Custom radiator, Custom radiator support, Electric fan, Custom hoses, Polished stainless steel overflow tube, Custom fabricated engine cover, Balanced and Blueprinted 350 cu. in. ‘crate’ motor, Aluminum heads, Smoothed and painted block, Polished aluminum water pump, Polished Ram-Jet fuel injection system, Polished aluminum intake manifold, Polished billet pulleys, Polished aluminum valve covers, Polished aluminum breathers, 8mm plug wires, Polished aluminum plug wire separators, Polished GM Alternator, Polished aluminum brackets, Custom fabricated motor mounts, Delco distributor, Delco coil, Custom rack & pinion steering system, Custom steering linkage, Smoothed & flush inner fenders, Custom faux side exhaust pipes, Ceramic coated headers, Mini hi-torque starter, Custom oil pan, Chrome tubular upper & lower A-arms, Polished drop spindles, Polished front coil covers, TCI front clip, Custom powder coated frame, Polished stainless steel bolts and fasteners, Vented front disc brakes, Polished calipers, Polished rotor covers, Smoothed & filled firewall, Custom hinged wiring compartment, GM700R4 (Polished) four speed transmission, Custom ‘tranny’ pan, Frame mounted transmission cooler, Custom fabricated side opening hood, Smooth inner side panels, Polished bear claw hood latch, Frame mounted brake reservoir, Custom V-butted windshield, Custom tinted glass, Polished billet side mirrors, Custom one-off Mercedes Benz fiberglass body, Custom one-ff set of chrome side moldings, Shaved suicide doors, Hidden door hinges, Custom fabricated lift-off Carson top, Painless wiring system, Custom fabricated dash, Custom hand painted woodgrain dash trim, Custom fabricated & hand painted instrument cluster, Classic instrument gauges, Classic Instrument tachometer, Tilt steering column, Italian Nardi wood rim steering wheel, Remote solenoid operated doors, Power door interlocks, Power operated windows, Polished billet knobs & controls, Premium CD head unit, Custom concealed speaker system, Custom upholstered gray leather seats, Custom fabricated center console, Custom arm rest, Custom gray leather upholstered door panels, Custom door pulls, Custom inner door hardware, Custom gray leather upholstered side & kick panels, Custom gray leather upholstered rear panel, Custom gray wool carpets, Custom gray wool floormats, Custom carpet rocker panel trim, Custom power operated rear storage compartment, Lokar pedals, Lokar shifter, Lokar parking brake, Custom rear window, Custom fabricated smooth running boards, Chrome wire wheels, White wall tires, Custom driveshaft, Custom stainless steel ceramic coated exhaust system, Polished rear coil covers, Custom painted Ford 9″ rear end, Rear disc brakes, Polished rear calipers, Custom fabricated gas tank, Electric fuel pump, Custom fuel filter system, Custom gas filler flap, Custom fabricated rear sub frame, Custom gray leather upholstered trunk, Trunk mounted battery, Custom recessed license plate frame, Ford ’37 rear lights, Custom ceramic exhaust tips, Custom smooth trunk lid, Custom chrome trunk lid trim, Gas trunk struts, Custom fabricated roll pan, Custom polished stainless steel rear split bumpers, Show quality custom two-tone silver exterior paint, Frenched in Fenders, 1 Piece Hood Top, 8″ Longer Hood Sides, Fuse Box Door. Included in this 120″ wheel base custom built, one of a kind roadster is a classic auto appraisal, Judges book from start to finish of this exquisite automobile, over 200,000.00 in receipts, and color pictures from the birth.  

The 1936 Mercedes Benzino is currently in the Dream Works Muscle & Classic Car garage for a complete inspection to have the car in a 100% mint condition.

The owner, Joe Michelin, is personally working on the car and correcting any minor problems including a rear seal and oil pan ring . 

Joe has corrected both problems along with adding a manual door opener in case the solenoid that opens the door malfunctions.

Please feel free to contact Joe with any questions concerning the car, its maintenance and its upkeep at .

This is a 100% road ready, show stopping vehicle.