Be it 24 hours or 1,000 miles: races over particularly long distances are an extreme challenge in motorsport. After all, the performance of the competition vehicles is just as decisive here as their reliability under constant maximum stress.

Mercedes-Benz has been impressive in these areas since the beginning of the motorsport history of the brand. One of the first highlights was the Paris – Bordeaux – Paris road race, which was carried out from 11 to 14 June 1895 over a distance of 1,192 kilometres. Of the first eight vehicles to finish, there were six cars equipped with engines according to a Daimler licence and two Benz vehicles.

Sauber-Mercedes C 9 Group C racing car, Le Mans 24-hour race, 1989. With starting number 63, the winning vehicle of Jochen Mass/Manuel Reuter/Stanley Dickens. With starting number 62, the team of Jean-Louis Schlesser/Jean-Pierre Jabouille/Alain Cudini, which ended in fifth place. Photo from 1989.

In the tradition of the great European road races, in the mid-20th century, the Italian Mille Miglia stands out in particular. Mercedes-Benz was twice able to attain outstanding victories there. In 1931, Rudolf Caracciola and co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian in the Mercedes-Benz SKKL were the first to take overall victory as drivers not from Italy. In 1955, the masterpiece of the British team of Stirling Moss/Denis Jenkinson in the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S) racing car followed: Moss with the best time ever achieved at a Mille Miglia, ahead of team colleague Juan Manuel Fangio.

In 1957, the Mille Miglia was carried out as a classic road race for the last time. Mercedes-Benz, however, also continued to be very successful in such long-distance competitions outside of Europe in the following years. For example, the Argentine Touring Car Grand Prix, a strenuous race over almost 5,000 kilometres, was won by the brand from Stuttgart four times in a row with saloons of the W 111/112 model series: 1961 (one-two win), 1962 (win by Ewy Rosqvist/Ursula Wirth), 1963 (quadruple win) and 1964 (triple win).

Endurance races

The return of Mercedes-Benz to racing after the end of the Second World War was also connected to the Mille Miglia: the new 300 SL (W 194) racing car premiered on the Brescia to Rome and back endurance classic on 3 to 4 May 1952. Karl Kling and Hans Klenk came flying in with a respectable second place in the overall standings.

The 300 SL celebrated one of its greatest triumphs in an endurance race on the racetrack: Mercedes-Benz attained a one-two win at the Le Mans 24-hour race from 13 to 14 June 1952. The overall standings were led by Hermann Lang and Fritz Rieß ahead of their team colleagues Theo Helfrich and Helmut Niedermayr. Three years later in 1955, Mercedes-Benz was in the lead at Le Mans with its 300 SLR racing car. After the very tragic accident involving the Silver Arrow of Pierre Levegh, for which nobody was at fault, Mercedes-Benz withdrew its remaining vehicles out of respect for the victims of the accident.

Thirty years ago, the Silver Arrows once again won in Le Mans: the Sauber-Mercedes C 9 Group C racing car attained a one-two win at the 24-hour race from 10 to 11 June 1989. The teams of Jochen Mass/Stanley Dickens/Manuel Reuter as well as Mauro Baldi/Kenny Acheson/Gianfranco Brancatelli led the overall standings. This was a highlight of the return of Mercedes-Benz to racing on a racetrack.

Thirty years ago, Jean Louis Schlesser won the World Sportscar Championship in the Sauber-Mercedes C 9. The team title of the World Championship went to Sauber-Mercedes in 1989. Both title wins were repeated the following year with the Sauber-Mercedes C 11.

Successes in customer sport

Fascinating sports car races inspired the fans of the FIA GT Championship at the end of the 1990s. Mercedes-Benz dominated the first two years of this international racing series with the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR (1997, championship title for Bernd Schneider) and CLK-LM (1998, championship title for Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta) GT racing cars.

Modern day successes with the sign of the Mercedes star by the Mercedes-AMG customer sport teams are reminiscent of those triumphs. Amongst others, the BLACK FALCON team has already won the Dubai 24-hour race four times (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018). Maro Engel won in 2015 at the first FIA GT World Cup in Macau in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3; Edoardo Mortara won in the same race in 2017 in the Mercedes-AMG GT3. The 2016 ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24-hour race was completed by the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with an incomparable quadruple victory. Since 2018, alongside the GT3 racing cars, the near-production Mercedes-AMG GT4 customer sport racing cars have been used. With over 130 wins and more than 40 titles, the past year was the most successful season of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing to date.

In every win and in every championship, there is the desire for competition – this is the theme for 125 years of motorsport with Mercedes-Benz.

It was the document that set the world in motion: on January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent on his “gas-powered vehicle”. This was the day the automobile was born. Later the same year, independently of Benz, Gottlieb Daimler built his motorised carriage. Thus it was that 1886 marked the beginning of the so far 130-year-long success story of Mercedes-Benz.

Stuttgart. The birth certificate of the automobile bears the number DRP 37435. For that was the reference under which the patent on a “gas-powered vehicle” filed by the Mannheim engineer Carl Benz on 29 January 1886 was registered with the German Imperial Patent Office in Berlin. The 130-year-old document is testimony to Carl Benz’s innovative spirit, creative power and entrepreneurial vision. Since 2011, the patent document has been part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, which also includes the Gutenberg Bible, the Magna Carta and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

How it all began

Carl Benz developed the world’s first automobile in 1885. To do this, he installed a high-speed one-cylinder four-stroke engine (954 cc displacement running at 400 rpm with 0.55 kW/0.75 hp output) horizontally in a specially designed chassis. The top speed was 16 km/h. This three-wheeled patent motor car was an absolute world first: a totally self-contained, self-propelled vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.

The patent motor car made its first public appearance on July 3, 1886 on Ringstrasse in Mannheim. Yet it was the long-distance journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back in 1888 in the improved Model III patent motor car that was to fully demonstrate the automobile’s suitability for everyday use.

That journey was undertaken not by Carl Benz himself, but by his wife, Bertha. In a show of utmost confidence in her husband’s invention, which had been filed with the Patent Office on 29 January 1886, Bertha Benz was accompanied by her sons Eugen and Richard – entirely unbeknown to the inventor – as she took to the wheel on this first long-distance journey in the history of the automobile in August 1888. Bertha and her sons thus proved how well the concept of a motor vehicle worked at the technical level. At the same time, they gave a practical demonstration of the today still typical application of a passenger car. This was set out by Carl Benz in his patent application when he referred to the “operation of mainly light carriages for the conveyance of one to four passengers”.

In 1886, the pioneering inventions of Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler brought a revolutionary, new dimension to mobility. For the past 130 years, the innovations presented by Mercedes-Benz have built on that accomplishment: in the interests of safety, comfort, efficiency and confidence. With present-day developments in areas such as autonomous driving, intelligently connected vehicles and electric mobility, Mercedes-Benz is introducing the future of the automobile. It was a visionary path on which Carl Benz set out on 29 January 1886 when he applied for a patent on his motor car.

Together with Gottlieb Daimler’s motorised carriage, which was developed likewise in 1886, Carl Benz’s patent motor car is the first exhibit on view to visitors as they begin their tour of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The Museum celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2016, having to date attracted over seven million visitors.

Benz patent motor car from 1886 (replica). On 29 January 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent on his “gas-powered vehicle”.

Carl Benz in his first Model I patent motor car from 1886, taken in Munich in 1925.

On 29 January 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent on his “gas-powered vehicle” (drawings of the design from the patent document).

One of approximately forty-five 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 d, Robert and Janet Eng’s “Mercedes Adenauer” is certainly one of the best restored of the original fleet. With an appreciation for the care required to refurbish a family heirloom, JG Francis from Mercedes Motoring helped to bring the “Adenauer” out of its post in the Eng family’s garage, and back out onto the streets where it belongs. Today, the couple has little respite from the throngs of classic car fanatics eager to buy the immaculately restored vehicle.

Ever since the day Robert Eng took the “Adenauer” Mercedes home as a present for his wife Janet, this car has been an important part of the family. The Engs have lived in Los Angeles since the 1930s, they know the city inside out and have always relied on their “Adenauer” as a loyal companion for their excursions through the Californian countryside.

The Engs always dreamed of reawakening the car to new life, dusting it off, washing it and making it shine in its erstwhile splendour. As Calvin Eng reminisces: “It required a bit more effort than anyone was prepared to invest”. The car had not been driven since the 1970s, although it was still loved – more as a relic of bygone joys than as an adventure that was waiting to begin. Protected against the elements though, it did remain intact during the decades leading up to its restoration.

In 1957, when the Mercedes-Benz 300 was introduced bearing the internal designation 300 d, it was a leader in its class and today, over half a century later, it is still a symbol of luxury. Built for a long useful life and an example for the durability of classic cars, the so-called “Adenauer Mercedes” was considered one of the most prestigious and elegant models of its time.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 “Adenauer-Mercedes“.
In its last production year, 1962, only forty-six 300 d cars were built, and the Engs’ saloon is now possibly one of the best-restored models.

.G. Francis, proprietor of Mercedes Motoring, helped to get the family heirloom from its location in the Engs’ garage back onto the road. He worked with care and dedication on the restoration of the Mercedes-Benz 300 d, even after the repair of the interior showed itself to be far more demanding that he had imagined at first. As so much work went into the car, Robert and Janet Eng are now overwhelmed by numerous enthusiastic classic car fans who want to buy the impeccably restored vehicle. One particularly noteworthy fact: the “Adenauer Mercedes” today runs with the same parts it had in 1962 – and thanks to the painstaking, careful restoration, runs at least as well as it did back then.

A photographer in Cuba has found an abandoned, partially destroyed and wrecked Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. If this news doesn’t bring you to tears, you’re dead to us.

Mercedes 300SL

Snapper Piotr Degler was entranced by the Caribbean republic’s automotive landscape – frozen, at least in part, since the 1950s – and soon got wind of a ‘legendary’ 300SL rumoured by locals to lay somewhere on the island.

So with his Inspector Gadget hat firmly on, Degler went hunting high and low for a month, travelling two thousand miles in the process. He asked everyone. He looked everywhere. And, only a few days before he was due to depart, he spotted the 300SL’s still-priceless silver remains hiding under a banana tree.

Piotr told Classic Driver: “When I found it, I spent the whole day taking pictures. Finding the car was an indescribable experience.” Also, we suspect, a heartbreaking one: the 300SL surely ranks as the prettiest Mercedes-Benz in history.

So, with the US and Cuba now on friendlier relations, we’d suggest taking a trip down Havana way to take in the motoring landscape in all its Fifties charm. Who knows what you might find?

Via: TopGear

Bonhams returns! On March 28, 2015 at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, the tradition-steeped London auction house Bonhams will for the second time be selling off original classic cars made by Mercedes-Benz and its predecessor brands. This marks a continuation of the successful cooperation between Bonhams and Mercedes-Benz Classic from July 2014.

Bonhams‘ Mercedes-Benz Auction

“Unique and authentic vehicles – that’s what characterises and unites Mercedes-Benz and Bonhams. A key role in our shared philosophy is played by the concept of originality,” explains Michael Bock, Director of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Customer Centre. “After this year’s successful auction, we wish once again in 2015 to provide a suitable stage for Bonhams. Not only collectors, but also museum visitors will have an opportunity next spring to relive the fun of the auction at Mercedes-Benz Classic.”

This year’s auction in July 2014 brought in total sales of almost 12 million euros, with over 70 percent of the 40 vehicles on offer changing owner. A Mercedes-Benz 500 K/540 K from 1934 fetched 3.1 million euros alone. One of the special highlights of this year’s auction in July was the DTM vehicle in which Mika Häkkinen won the 2005 DTM race in Spa-Francorchamps. The racing car was sold for 460,000 euros.

The links between Mercedes-Benz Classic and Bonhams have existed since the 1990s, as vehicles used to be auctioned also at the old Mercedes-Benz Museum in Untertürkheim. Last year, the brand historians at Mercedes-Benz Classic furnished Bonhams with a detailed manufacturer’s report on the W 196 R, the only privately owned postwar Silver Arrow, which came under the hammer at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale” on 12 July 2013. Juan Manuel Fangio’s original Grand Prix racing car from 1954 changed hands for a record auction price of around 23.6 million euros.

Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA just posted a new job opening that for many of our readers would be a dream job.  They are looking for an experience technician to work in the classic workshop on restorations like the Mercedes 300 SL, 190 SL, 300 S and SC cabriolet, you get the idea.  The Metal Fabrication / Body Technician job is based out of Souther California at the Mercedes-Benz USA’s Classic Center.

For those of you that fit the bill, you can contact the Classic Center at classiccenter@mbusa.com, with the subject ‘Application for Restoration Technician’. Send them your resume, tell them a bit about yourself and your experience in body work / metal fabrication, restoration and repair. And, if you’re smart, you’ll send along photos that showcase some of your work.

The full job description can be found by clicking here.

To mark the premiere of the International Edelweiss Mountain Award Rossfeld Berchtesgaden (September 17-29, 2013), Jochen Mass will be driving a Mercedes-Benz SSK (W 06300 6.8) and Karl Wendlinger will take to the wheel of the AMG 300 SEL 6.8, the “Red Giant”. Both models are equipped with some brilliant motorsport features.

1928 Mercedes-Benz type SSK

The International Edelweiss Mountain Award Rossfeld Berchtesgaden is an event which takes place on the Rossfeld panoramic pass road between Berchtesgaden and Salzburg and harks back to the heyday of hill climb racing in the middle of the last century. It was a time when the Mercedes-Benz star shone brightly in the various international competitions in this discipline: Rudolf Caracciola and Hans Stuck won the European Hill Climbing Championship for sports cars three times in the years 1930 to 1932. Caracciola, lead driver at the time for the Mercedes-Benz racing department, was European Hill Climbing Champion in 1930 and 1931, while in 1932 the title went to Stuck, who became champion of the Alps in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL. As a representative of this era, Mercedes-Benz Classic is sending the SSK to the International Edelweiss Mountain Award event with Jochen Mass at the wheel.

The second vehicle, the AMG 300 SEL 6.8 (W 109) to be driven by Karl Wendlinger, throws the spotlight on a younger facet of motorsport history. At the same time it is also a shining example of the history of the AMG brand. In 1971 the red-painted racing touring car celebrated its greatest triumph at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Rekindling memories of golden eras

Hill climbs were first staged on the gravel track that runs from Berchtesgaden to Obersalzberg in the years 1925 to 1928. The race, for cars and motorcycles, became known as the Salzberg race. The Rossfeld race marked a revival of this tradition between the 1950s and the 1970s. Jochen Mass was one of those who took part in the race, in 1969 and then again in 1971. In those days, the race also counted as a heat towards the European Hill Climbing Championship. “The Rossfeld has always had a very particular attraction for me”, says the Mercedes-Benz Classic brand ambassador today of this historic route. “It brings together landscape and motor racing in a very special way.”

The International Edelweiss Mountain Award Rossfeld Berchtesgaden 2013 harks back to these two golden eras in the history of hill climb racing. The premiere begins on the Friday (27 September) with the scrutineering session and presentation of the vehicles in Berchtesgaden. The practice runs follow on the Saturday (28 September). The contest for the Mountain Award itself finally takes place on the Sunday (29 September) in three classification rounds. The event also incorporates an extensive programme of activities based around the fascinating history of the automobile.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic vehicle taking part in the International Edelweiss Mountain Award Rossfeld Berchtesgaden 2013

Mercedes-Benz SSK 27/170/225 PS (W 06 series), 1928

Of all the six-cylinder supercharged sports cars in the Mercedes-Benz S-series, the SSK (W 06) model is the most exclusive and fascinating variant. The letters SSK stand for the German words for Super-Sport-Short, so drawing attention to the shortened wheelbase as well as to the vehicle’s sporty appeal. Straight away, in the summer of 1928, works racing driver Rudolf Caracciola won the Gabelbach, Schauinsland and Mont Ventoux races at the wheel of the brand-new SSK. In 1930 and 1931, it was again in the SSK that he won the European Hill Climbing Championship. The lighter and even more powerful version of 1931, also known as the SSKL (Super-Sport-Short-Light), achieved similarly spectacular success. Among its most notable achievements was a win in the legendary 1000-mile “Mille Miglia” race: in 1931 Rudolf Caracciola, in the SSKL, became the first non-Italian driver to claim victory in this challenging road race from Brescia to Rome.

Technical data Mercedes-Benz Type SSK 27/170/225 PS street version

• Production period: 1928-1930
• Cylinders: 6/in-line
• Displacement: 7065 cc
• Output: 125 kW (170 hp), with compressor 165 kW (225 hp) at
• 3300 rpm
• Top speed: 192 km/h

AMG 300 SEL 6.8 (W 109), 1971

It was at the wheel of the AMG 300 SEL 6.8 touring race car that Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz won a surprising class victory and second place in the overall classification at the 24-hour race at Spa, Belgium, on 24 July 1971. The winning car was developed by the then virtually unknown AMG, founded in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, Großaspach, under the name “Ingenieursbüro, Konstruktion und Versuch zur Entwicklung von Rennmotoren” (Engineering office, Construction and Testing for the Development of Racing Engines). The modified vehicle was based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 which, with an output of 250 hp (184 kW), was absolutely unrivalled in its day. But Aufrecht and Melcher made the fastest German series-production car of the period even more powerful: engine capacity grew from 6330 cc to 6835 cc, and the output of the improved V8 engine increased to 428 hp (315 kW). The win in the race at Spa marked the breakthrough for AMG and was to be followed by further victories. To this day the car is still known by its nickname, the “Red Giant”. The original car from 1971 no longer exists, but in 2006 the AMG 300 SEL 6.8 was re-developed in a detailed reconstruction. It has been an immensely potent ambassador of Mercedes-AMG history on each of its appearances ever since.

Jochen Mass

The driver for Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Edelweiss Mountain Award 2013

Jochen Mass

• Born 30 September 1946 in Dorfen, near Starnberg, Germany

Jochen Mass, originally a seaman by profession, began his varied career in motorsport in 1968 driving in touring car races for Alfa Romeo and then as a works driver for Ford from 1970 until 1975. During this period (1972) he won the 24-hour endurance race at Spa-Francorchamps. He was involved at the same time in Formula 2 racing (1973) and drove in 105 Formula 1 Grand Prix races (1973/74 for Surtees; 1975 to 1977 for McLaren; 1978 for ATS; 1979/80 for Arrows; 1982 for March).

With the 1985 German Sports Car Championship title under his belt, and following a stint as a works driver for Porsche until 1987, he was recruited as a works driver to the Sauber-Mercedes team. He drove in Group C for this team until 1991. In the new Silver Arrow, the Sauber-Mercedes C9, Jochen Mass won the 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens and finished runner-up in the 1989 World Championship. Three years later, Mass became involved in team management for the DTM (German Touring Car Championship, as it then was).

Sir Stirling Moss has described him as “a driver with an enormous feeling for racing cars and great technical knowledge, who is familiar with every era in racing history”. It is therefore hardly surprising that, to this day, Jochen Mass is still to be found behind the wheel for Mercedes-Benz at historical events. Whether the vehicle is a W 125 “Silver Arrow” or a Mercedes-Benz SSK, Jochen Mass knows and drives them all.

Karl Wendlinger

• Born 20 December 1968 in Kufstein, Austria

Karl Wendlinger was fourteen when he entered the world of motorsports through kart racing. He went on to win the German Formula 3 Championship in 1989. From 1990 to 1991, the Austrian was part of the Mercedes Junior Team that also included Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and as part of this team he took part in the World Sports Car Championship. In 1991, he made the move to Formula 1. From 1994 onwards, Wendlinger with Heinz-Harald Frentzen for the Sauber-Mercedes team. He took part in the DTM German Touring Car Championships, International Formula 3000 and the 24 Hours at Le Mans. Some of his key victories on the circuit include the FIA GT Championship (1999), first in the 24 Hours at Le Mans in the GTS class (the same year), overall victory at the 24 Hours at Daytona in 2000, and second place in the 24 Hours at the Nürburgring (2003). From 2004 to 2011, Karl Wendlinger drove for various teams in the FIA GT Championship, and in 2007 he was runner-up with Jetalliance Racing. Karl Wendlinger has been an AMG brand ambassador and an instructor at the AMG Driving Academy in France since 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Classic will be in attendance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance on August 18, 2013 and will be displaying a 1910 “Prinz Heinrich” Benz that has been restored by Mercedes-Benz Classic themselves. The Prinz Heinrich is considered to be one of the first true sports cars ever made.

Benz “Prinz Heinrich car” from 1910

Also representing the long tradition of premium and luxury class vehicles at Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes Classic will also be exhibiting a 24/40 hp Benz landaulet that dates back to 1907.

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance is to be held at the Pebble Beach Golf Links course in California with the classic event staged for the 18th green. The Concours d’Élégance is a weekend completely dedicated to elegant, refined, and outstanding cars. It is a place for fans, experts, and collectors of classic cars, with so much going on, a must on your calendar are the exclusive auctions that are great to watch even if you aren’t bidding.

Mercedes-Benz has enjoyed a long tradition of success at the top-class event celebrated under the hot Californian sun: since 1950, the brand’s long list of awards have included several overall victories in the “Best of Show” category as well as more than 120 class victories and special prizes. Last year too saw a Mercedes-Benz pick up the coveted title of “Best of Show” in the guise of a Mercedes-Benz Saoutchik S Type. Designed by French coachbuilder Jacques Saoutchik, the car first shipped in 1928. The S Type’s “torpedo” bodywork with low windscreen captured the hearts of the judges so much so that it was named the finest vehicle on display at the competition.

Equipped with four-valve technology, the 4-cylinder engine developed 59 kW (80 hp) from its 5.7-litre displacement

“Prinz Heinrich” Benz from 1910

This year Mercedes-Benz Classic is bringing a representative of the very early days of motor racing to the USA: a “Prinz-Heinrich” Benz dating from 1910, which Mercedes-Benz Classic has faithfully restored to the very highest standards of authenticity. More than 100 years old, the vehicle is a fascinating contemporary witness of the motor sport innovations of the early 1900s. In terms of technology, this Benz model combines everything that was, and today still is, deemed to be high-tech in the field of automotive engineering, including dual ignition and four-valve technology.

In its day, the “Prinz-Heinrich Fahrt” (Prince Heinrich Tour), named after the brother of the German Emperor, was one of the most prominent automobile races in Europe. The “Kaiserlicher Automobil-Club” (German Imperial Automobile Club) staged the event between 1908 and 1910, and only permitted four-seater production vehicles to take part – so strictly no racing cars.

Benz “Prinz Heinrich car” from 1910. Image from the “Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung” (AAZ) magazine, No. 23, 1910.

For the 1910 Tour, which was staged between 2 and 8 June of that year and covered a total distance of 1,945 kilometres from Berlin to Bad Homburg vor der Höhe in Hesse – via Brunswick, Kassel, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Strasbourg, and Metz – no less than ten all-new special touring cars were built. Four of them had 5.7-litre engines while the other six had engines with a displacement of 7.3 litres. All the touring cars were equipped with cardan shaft drive and featured a streamlined body with a characteristic pointed rear.

This dark green Benz special touring car with race number 38, only presented in February after being extensively restored to its original condition by Mercedes-Benz Classic, is considered to be the first true sports car by many automobile historians. It is one of only two known vehicles in the world produced by Benz for the Prince Heinrich Tour of 1910 that have survived in their original form since their first race more than 100 years ago. The vehicle from the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection finished in 11th place at the time, and then in the same year also took part in the Tsar Nicholas Tour. To this day the racing car still has the modified engine – with a displacement reduced to 5.4 litres – with which it was fitted for this race in Russia.

Technical data for the “Prinz-Heinrich” Benz

• Year of construction: 1910
• Cylinders: 4
• Displacement: 5,715 cc
• Power output: 80 hp (59 kW)
• Top speed: 126 km/h

Combining the benefits of closed and open-top driving: 24/40 hp Benz landaulet from 1906

24/40 hp Benz landaulet from 1907

The second vehicle to be presented by Mercedes-Benz Classic at Pebble Beach is a 24/40 hp Benz landaulet. This vehicle stands in the long tradition of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which dates back to the start of the 20th century. Since that time, the product line of the brands Mercedes and Benz – from 1926 Mercedes-Benz – has always comprised outstanding premium- and luxury-class models. They represent innovative, visionary automotive technology, generating the driving force for entire automotive development.

The 24/40 hp model was produced at Benz in the first decade of the last century as part of a whole series of newly developed products with 28, 35, 40 and 45 hp (21, 26, 29 and 33 kW) engines. They all featured a variety of technical features: they all had a four-cylinder engine with cylinders cast together in pairs. The laterally positioned camshaft was driven via spur gears. Two spark plugs per cylinder drew their current via magneto ignition. The four-speed transmission was operated via a sliding shift mechanism. Despite being optionally available with cardan shaft drive system, the power of the 24/40 hp model from the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection is still delivered to the rear wheels via chains.

As was usual for that period, different body variants were available – hence also a landaulet version. The driver was left to sit out in the open, with little protection, while in inclement weather the ladies and gentlemen were able to sit beneath a well-upholstered folding roof. The vehicle from the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection was originally delivered to the south of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it remained in service until 1966.

Technical data for the 24/40 hp Benz landaulet

• Year of construction: 1907
• Cylinders: 4, cast together in pairs
• Displacement: 6,107 cc
• Power output: 40 hp (29 kW)
• Top speed: 80 km/h

When it comes to classic car events, there is no question that the Mille Miglia is one of the highlights of the year. Car enthusiasts from around the world make the trek to Italy to watch or take part in the 1,000 mile endurance race that kicks off on May 16. Taking part in the 2013 Mille Miglia will be Mercedes-Benz Classic with the legendary 300 SLR, numerous other vintage models and Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon.

Watch the video below of last year’s Mille Miglia for an idea of what Steve Cannon and other racers and fans will experience at this year’s race.

Thanks to a long illustrious history, Mercedes-Benz and Mille Miglia will be forever linked. For example Karl Kling drove a 300 SL racing car (W 194) to finish second place in 1952, symbolising the successful return of the Mercedes-Benz brand to the international racing stage. And of course no one can forget the legendary victory of Rudolf Caracciola in 1931. Along with his co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian, the Mercedes-Benz driver became the first non-Italian to win the Mille Miglia in his SSKL model.

Mille Miglia 2012, Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S, 1955) with Jochen Mass at the wheel. Original car of Juan Manuel Fangio at the Mille Miglia 1955

And perhaps the most famous moment for Mercedes-Benz at the Mille Miglia was in 1955 when Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson won the 1,000 mile race with the number 722 300 SLR (W 196 S). Sterling Moss won the race by maintaining an average speed of 97.95 mph.  The team completed the course in the fastest ever time of ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds.

There will be four famous faces representing Mercedes-Benz Classic at this year’s event: former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard will drive a 300 SLR (W 196 S) while Karl Wendlinger and Jochen Mass will team up in a 300 SL (W 198). Bernd Mayländer, the current driver of the Official F1 Safety Car, will also start at this year’s Mille Miglia in a 300 SL (W 198).

Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 658) in a Mercedes-Benz Model 300 SLR racing sports car just before the start of the 1955 Mille Miglia.

In addition to several Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198) models, this superb line-up will include an SSK, the legendary six-cylinder supercharged vehicle from the pre-war era. Also taking part is the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing model (W 194) with the original chassis number 5. It is the same vehicle that saw Rudolf Caracciola secure fourth place at the Mille Miglia in 1952. What’s more, the 300 SLR with starting number 658, behind whose wheel David Coulthard will be starting the race, is an original participant vehicle: in 1955, the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio drove this very vehicle solo across the finish line to take second place in the overall rankings, coming in just behind the winning team of Moss and Jenkinson, thus making 1955 doubly successful for the Mercedes-Benz brand.

The vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Classic at Mille Miglia 2013

Mercedes-Benz SSK 27/170/225 hp (W 06), 1928

Of all the six-cylinder supercharged vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz S-series, the SSK (W 06) is the most exclusive and most impressive model. SSK stands for “Super-Sport-Kurz” (Super Sport Short) and its particularly sporty design is emphasised by the shortened wheelbase. Rudolf Caracciola got off to a flying start in the summer of 1928 in the brand-new SSK, winning the Gabelbachrennen race, as well as both the Schauinsland and Mont Ventoux races. In 1930 and 1931, the SSK helped him secure victory at the European Hill Climb Championship. Spectacular success was also achieved with the lighter, even more powerful version from 1931, known as the SSKL (“Super-Sport-Kurz-Leicht”; Super Sport Short Light). One particularly significant victory was recorded at Mille Miglia in April 1931 when Rudolf Caracciola drove the SSKL over the finishing line in first place, making him the first ever non-Italian to win the race. He even set a new record by travelling at an average speed of 101.1 km/h.

The 'Mille Miglia', the 1,000-mile race starting and finishing in Brescia, 12 and 13 April 1931. Rudolf Caracciola and his co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL racing car (W 06 RS model series) at the finish line in Brescia. It is the first time that a foreigner is the overall winner of this famous Italian race.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W 194), 1952

Mercedes-Benz returned to the world of international motorsport after the Second World War in 1952 with the 300 SL racing car (W 194). This vehicle was based on an extremely light, yet torsionally stiff space frame, covered by an elegantly curved, aerodynamic light-alloy body shell made from aluminium magnesium sheet metal. The space frame, with its increased torsional stiffness, was quite high at the sides of the vehicle in comparison to other vehicles. In turn, this meant that conventional doors were not suitable. Instead, the W 194 featured the characteristic gullwing doors attached to the roof. This design was also used for the 300 SL (W 198) series-production sports car from 1954, referred to in the English-speaking world as the “Gullwing”.

Powering the W 194 was the 170 hp (125 kW) M 194 inline six-cylinder engine with 2996 cubic centimetres of displacement. The 300 SL launched its racing career at the Mille Miglia in May 1952, after being unveiled in March of the same year. There were major successes recorded in the first and only racing season of the W 194, which included 1st. 2nd and 3rd place at the Bern Prize for Sports Cars, the spectacular 1st and 2nd place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and at the 3rd Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, as well as winning the Jubilee Grand Prix for sports cars at the Nürburgring.

Mille Miglia, 3 to 4 May 1952. Driving team Rudolf Caracciola/Paul Kurrle (No. 613) with Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194, 1952) takes fourth place

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S), 1955

In 1955, Mercedes-Benz won the World Sportscar Championship with the 300 SLR. This vehicle is essentially a W 196 R Formula 1 racing car fitted with a two-seater sports car bodyshell albeit with a three-litre in-line eight-cylinder engine and light alloy cylinder blocks instead of the 2.5-litre Formula 1 engine and its welded steel cylinders which were required for thermal reasons.

With 310 hp (221 kW), the 300 SLR was way ahead of the competition in 1955, as proven by its 1st and 2nd place victories at the Mille Miglia, the Eifel race, the Swedish Grand Prix and Targa Florio. Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson (start number 722) won the Mille Miglia in 1955 with a record average speed of 157.65 km/h, one that remains unbeaten to this day. They were helped to victory by the “prayer book”. This was a series of notes on the course used by Jenkinson to direct Moss as they travelled across Italy. Lone driver Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 658) took second place.

Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 658) in a Mercedes-Benz Model 300 SLR racing sports car just before the start of the 1955 Mille Miglia.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198), 1954

In February 1954, the 300 SL “Gullwing” was unveiled to the world for the first time at the International Motor Sport Show in New York. The new high-performance sports car was based on the legendary 300 SL racing car (W 194) from the 1952 season. A light and torsionally rigid space frame supported the engine, gearbox and axles. Just like the racing version, it left no space for the classic door design, so the gullwing doors also became a distinctive feature of this series-production sports car. In any case, the “Gullwing” represented real innovative thinking. As the world’s first series-production passenger car, it was powered by a four-stroke engine with fuel injection. This not only increased efficiency, but also engine performance. With 215 hp (158 kW), thus 20 percent more than the carburettor racing version, top speeds of up to 260 km/h were possible, depending on the final transmission ratio. This made the 300 SL the fastest series-production vehicle of its time and the 1950s racing car that dreams were made of.

It also helped secure victory at Mille Miglia: in 1955, the team of John Fitch and Kurt Gessl won the Gran Turismo class for vehicles with a displacement of over 1600 cubic centimetres, achieving 5th place in the overall classification. Olivier Gendebien and Jacques Washer also secured 7th place in the same class. The 300 SL made another appearance at Mille Miglia in 1956 when the team of Prince Metternich and Count Einsiedel took 6th place in the big GT class.

Mille Miglia, Brescia in Italy, 1 May 1955. Winners in the production sports car class: John Cooper Fitch and Kurt Gesell (start number 417) in a Mercedes-Benz Type 300 SL (W 198) touring sports car

Mercedes-Benz 220 a (W 180), 1954

The 220 model introduced in the spring of 1954 – also known internally within the company as the 220 a (W 180) – was the first Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder model to feature a self-supporting structure. Presented by Mercedes-Benz just six months previously in the mid-size 180 model, the modern and spacious self-supporting “Pontoon” body offered a standard of comfort as yet unknown to drivers. The single-joint swing axle, introduced to series-production with the 220 model, ensured safe handling.

At the Mille Miglia in 1956, several Mercedes-Benz 220 models started in the class for standard special touring vehicles. In this class, modifications were permitted to both the chassis and the engine. The team of Erwin Bauer and Erwin Grupp won their class at the legendary Italian endurance race with a special 220 model. Three vehicles had been specially prepared for the Mille Miglia by Karl Kling and his team. They already had the twin-carburettor system of the successor 220 S model, with an engine capable of approximately 115 hp (85 kW). For the challenging journey, there were shorter and harder springs, as well as modified shock absorbers. Furthermore, the drivers were able to change gears using the floor shift, just like in the 190 SL, instead of the previously used steering column shift.

Mille Miglia 2012, Mercedes-Benz 220 a (W 180, 1954 bis 1959).

Fifty years after production stopped, at this year’s Retro Classics (March 7-10, 2013), the Mercedes-Benz Setra will be shining a spotlight on the coach model that played a large part in the success story of the long-standing brand from Ulm – The Setra S 6.  A total of five examples of the S6 will be on show in Hall 8 of the Stuttgart Trade Fair. In addition to buses belonging to the firms Rast-Reisen, Schranner, Kronberger and Fischer, Daimler’s Ulm-based bus brand will also be exhibiting an S 6 from the Setra classic collection in Neu-Ulm.

Production of the Setra S 6 stopped fifty years ago

The third ever coach from Setra premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in1955. The 6.7-metre-long and 2.25-metre-wide coach became the basis for all compact buses of the brand to follow. A total of 1172 examples of this model, which can still be admired at many classic vehicle events, were manufactured up until 1963. The technically outstanding features include four independent wheel mountings with double wishbones, which is unique to this day, rubber springs with telescopic shock absorbers and a steering column gear shift. A low centre of gravity and the ideal ratio between wheelbase, overhang and track width ensured stable road-holding at all times. The S 6 was powered by a 517 D 4K Henschel four-cylinder diesel engine, the output of which was boosted in later years from the original 85 hp to 100 hp with the aid of a belt-driven compressor.

International exhibition with 65 000 visitors

Retro Classics has become truly established as an international exhibition for classic vehicles, spare parts and restoration. Last year, 65,000 visitors flocked to the halls of the Stuttgart Trade Fair. This year it will be held on Thursday 7 March from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Friday 8 March from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. One-day tickets cost 16 € for adults and reduced rate tickets are 12 €.

Technical data

• Setra S 6 (Setra classic collection)
• Built in 1962
• Chassis no. 56 307
• Seats 24
• Engine Henschel 4-cylinder 517 D 4 K
• Displacement 4.08 l
• kW/hp 66/90
• Top speed 100 km/h
• Transmission ZF S 5-33
• Height 2630 mm
• Length 6700 mm
• Width 2250 mm

On the 127th birthday of the automobile, the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) has introduced important guidelines for owners of historical vehicles. The Turin Charter, presented at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, provides guidance on questions of authenticity.

“As the inventor of the automobile, our company is in an excellent position”, said Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “We are the only people with access to the full range of sources to allow us to prove the authenticity of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle”.

FIVA’s Turin Charter underlines the significance of the automobile in terms of cultural heritage and addresses questions of authenticity – an important issue for all owners of classic automobiles. It sets out the case for a responsible approach to dealing with classic vehicles and provides guidance about their use, upkeep, repair and restoration.

The Charter was presented yesterday in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, exactly 127 years after Carl Benz registered his patent at the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin. The corresponding policy paper had previously been approved by delegates at the General Assembly of the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens in October 2012.

FIVA was established in 1966 and today encompasses 85 member organisations in 62 countries. The organisation describes itself as an international association of historic vehicle clubs, representing altogether more than 1,500,000 classic vehicle enthusiasts.

Mercedes-Benz Classic will be on hand with its finest collection of classic vehicles at this year’s Schloss Dyck Classic Days from August 3 to 5, 2012. On exhibit will be a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, a Mercedes-Benz 500 SL Rallye, a Mercedes-Benz 500 K as well as a Mercedes-Benz C 111. In addition, a 300 SL racing car from 1952 and an SL 63 AMG Safety Car from 2008 will provide some excitement on the track. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Düsseldorf plant will exhibit classic light-duty commercial vehicles on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. And as always visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to meet famous Mercedes-Benz racing drivers from various motor sport eras on site.

This will be already the seventh edition of the Schloss Dyck Classic Days. For the first time the event will last three whole days. As far back as 60 years ago, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W 194) laid the foundation for the successful motor sport activities of the Stuttgart-based brand after Second World War. Classic racing cars still exude a very special fascination today when their historic engines are started and they subsequently begin to drive. Racing driver legend Hans Herrmann will climb behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194) from 1952 to drive some demonstration laps on the track outside the Dyck Castle gates. On all three days Dieter Glemser will pilot the pace car of the individual special races, the original Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Safety Car (R 230) that saw action during the 2008/2009 Formula 1 season.

Sir Stirling Moss will travel to the Rhineland this year as a guest of honour of the festival organiser and will also be available to Mercedes-Benz Classic on all three days. The former Silver Arrow pilot can expect his own paddock with a selection of his legendary winning cars. The racing driver legend will fulfill requests for autographs in the paddock – in the immediate vicinity of his winning Mille Miglia car, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR from 1955 with the famous starting number 722.

A special feature at this year’s Classic Days Schloss Dyck will be the light-duty commercial vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz Düsseldorf plant, which celebrates its golden jubilee. Since April 1952, some 3.5 million vans sporting the Mercedes star have been produced there. This includes a number of model series such as the L/O 319, L 406 D/L 408/O 309, T1, T2, and Sprinter that have shaped and enriched the daily lives of many. These days the Düsseldorf plant produces the latest Sprinter NCV3 model as a panel van and as a crew bus.

The program of the Classic Days, to which enthusiasts and collectors travel from all over Europe, focuses on several themes. “Racing Legends” presents track races for historic competition vehicles up to model year 1961. Solo and sidecar motorcycles manufactured in 1940 and before also race against the clock on the 2.8-kilometre track near the moated castle.

Sports and racing cars will start in the categories “Classic” (1910 through 1925), “Historic” (1926 through 1949) and “Modern” (1950 through 1961). There will also be the special races “Milestones of the Compressor Era” for supercharged racing cars manufactured between 1920 and 1960, “Formula Monoposto” for one-seater Formula racing cars which date from the years between 1930 and 1965 as well as “Historic Grand Prix Cars” for Grand Prix cars built between 1920 and 1965.

“Jewels in the Park” is the name of the second dazzling highlight of the festival at Schloss Dyck. The exclusive vehicle presentation is once again rated as a top event in category A by the FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens), the worldwide association for historic vehicles – on par with the Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Just 40 rare vehicles qualify for the contest on the meadows directly next to the castle.

Various special exhibitions and themed presentations will round out the program of events at the Schloss Dyck Classic Days. One such special item on the agenda will be the presentation of classic vehicles on the Miscanthus Field – named after the decorative Chinese reed grass which grows there. For two days it will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind vast open-air museum presenting the cultural history of the automobile with many hundreds of vehicles on show. Another reason behind the strong presence of the Stuttgart-based brand is the close relationship with the official Mercedes-Benz marque clubs: Some 400 members and their vehicles from all over Europe are expected to attend.

The vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Schloss Dyck Classic Days 2012

Mercedes-Benz 500 K “Barn Find”, 1934

Mercedes-Benz entered the market segment of the international luxury class in the 1930s with its eight-cylinder supercharged car. The “Typ 500 mit Kompressor”, or 500 K (model series W 29) for short, emerges in 1934 in eight different body styles: as a streamlined saloon with the melodic name “Motorway Courier Car”, as a 4-door saloon, back then still referred to as a “Sedan”, as a cabriolet in three variants, as a 2-door open touring car, and as a roadster. The ultimate variant was the particularly elegant and luxurious Special Roadster, only 29 of which were ever built. The 500 K and its successor, the 540 K, acquired legendary status not only on account of their superlative power and performance, but also by virtue of their beguilingly attractive and high-quality bodies. With its tailor-made form and elegant flowing lines, the “Sindelfingen Body” rose to benchmark status in the 1930s.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W 194), 1952

In 1952, Mercedes-Benz got involved in international motor sport again with the 300 SL racing car of the W 194 series. The basis of the vehicle was an extremely lightweight yet highly rigid tubular frame, clad in an elegantly curved light-alloy body made from aluminium-magnesium sheet metal. Because for reasons of rigidity the tubular frame builds comparatively high on the sides, the W 194 could not be fitted with conventional doors; thus the racing car ended up with its iconic gullwing doors that attach to the roof. This detail was adopted in 1954 by the production sports car 300 SL (W 198) and quickly earned it the moniker “Gullwing” in the English-speaking world.

The W 194 was powered by the six-cylinder in-line M 194 engine that was rated at 170 hp (125 kW) and had a cubic capacity of 2,996 cc. The 300 SL was presented in March 1952 and had its racing debut in the Mille Miglia in May 1952. Among the greatest achievements of the W 194 in its first and only racing season was the triple victory in the Grand Prix of Bern, the spectacular double victories in the 24-hour race at Le Mans and in the 3rd Carrera Panamericana in Mexico as well as the win in the ” Great Jubilee Prize at the Nürburgring “.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S), 1955

Mercedes-Benz won the 1955 World Sports Car Championship with the 300 SLR. This sports car was effectively a W 196 Formula 1 racing car equipped with a two-seater sports car body and a three-litre, eight-cylinder in-line engine made of light alloy in place of the 2.5-litre Formula 1 engine with its steel cylinders.

Developing 310 hp (221 kW), the 300 SLR was far superior to its competitors of 1955, as reflected by its one-two wins in the Mille Miglia, the Eifel race at the Nürburgring, the Swedish Grand Prix and the Targa Florio. The 1955 Mille Miglia was won by Stirling Moss assisted by navigator Denis Jenkinson (starting number 722) at an unsurpassed average speed of 157.65 km/h; the “prayer book” proved invaluable in achieving this victory: These pace notes, an innovation at the time, allowed Jenkinson to direct the driver Moss across Italy very effectively. Juan Manuel Fangio (starting number 658) came in second driving solo.

Mercedes-Benz 500 SL Rallye (R 107), 1981

As part of the rally activities in 1979 and 1980 with the SLC Coupés of model series 107 Mercedes-Benz also seriously contemplated using the shorter and more agile roadster. For the 1981 season four vehicles were prepared. Walter Röhrl, the top driver at the time, was hired for rally racing. Röhrl conducted extensive test drives with a Mercedes-Benz 500 SL that was equivalent to this vehicle.

For rally racing the vehicle was fitted with a shorter final-drive ratio, designed for fast acceleration at a correspondingly lower top speed. To transfer the 320 hp (235 kW) of the performance-tuned V8 engine to the road, the driven axle was fitted with a limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 80 per cent, resulting in spectacular – and in the hands of a master – at the same time safe drift angles. A special distinguishing feature of the M 117 engine was its reliability and longevity.

Also impressive was the weight reduction from 1586 to 1350 kilograms, obligatory for motor sport use. And that despite added features such an aluminium roll cage, auxiliary headlamps and all the other rally equipment. Also noteworthy was the parking brake operated by an upright lever that facilitated “setting the approach angle” of the vehicle before bends. However, the vehicle never saw any action because Mercedes-Benz ceased its rally activities before the start of the season.

Mercedes-Benz C 111, 1969

At the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in September 1969, Mercedes-Benz presented an unusual car: the C 111. The world queued up to see this “test lab on wheels” with its wedge-shaped body and upward-opening gullwing doors. The colour, an orange metallic, originally designated “rosé wine”, also helped to rivet attention. Less conspicuous, but no less unusual, were the technical innovations. The body consisted of fibreglass-reinforced plastic and was riveted and bonded to the steel-frame floor system.

The C 111 served to test the rotary engine. A three-rotor unit developing 280 hp (206 kW) provided the power and permitted a top speed of 260 km/h – quite remarkable for the time. Just a few months later a thoroughly revised version of the C 111 was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. It featured a four-rotor Wankel engine with an output of 350 hp (257 kW). The car accelerated from rest to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reached a top speed of 300 km/h.

Little more was heard about the Wankel engine; diesel technology now became the focus of research. And record-breaking versions of the C 111 again captured public interest: in June 1976, April 1978, and May 1979 the C 111 completed runs on the high-speed test track in Nardo in southern Italy, which produced several absolute world records over various distances.

Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Safety Car (R 230), 2008

Since 1996 Mercedes-Benz has provided the Official F1™ Safety Cars for the races of the Formula 1 world championship. The SL 63 AMG (model series R 230) provided the basis for the 2008 season. The vehicle was developed by the AMG Performance Studio and was powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine developing 525 hp (386 kW). The Official F1™ Safety Car is always called upon when accidents, bad weather or other dangerous situations jeopardise a safe race. Fast lap times are a must for the Safety Car because otherwise the engines of the Formula 1 cars would overheat while at the same time their tyres and brakes would cool off too much. Numerous modifications to the production vehicle are required to deliver the kind of performance demanded on the racetrack.

One important aspect of this Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG was strategic lightweight design. Bonnet, front and rear fascia, front fenders and the boot lid are all manufactured from extremely lightweight yet strong carbon-fibre composites (CFC). Since the Safety Car is always driven with the roof closed, the Vario roof and its mechanical and hydraulic systems were eliminated as well. The Safety Car pilots also must do without insulation materials for noise control and heat reduction. The results: despite the additional weight for auxiliary equipment, such as for example the custom roof-mounted signal light bar, the extensive communications system, larger and additional coolers for engine and transmission oil, coolant and power steering, the Safety Car with full fuel and without occupants weighs 220 kilograms less than a comparable SL 63 AMG production car.

The drivers for Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Schloss Dyck Classic Days 2012

Dieter Glemser, Born in Kirchheim/Teck on 28 June 1938

Dieter Glemser’s career in the fast lane began with the Schorndorf Hill Climb race in 1960. Many class victories followed in various mountain and circuit races on the Nürburgring.

Glemser began racing for Daimler-Benz AG in 1963, winning overall in a Mercedes 220 SE at the Poland Rally and taking second place in both the Germany Rally (including a class win) and the Grand Prix of Argentina. In the following year Glemser was also part of the triple victory of the Böhringer/Kaiser, Glemser/Braungart, and Rosqvist/Falk teams at the Grand Prix of Argentina.

Glemser celebrated victory once again in 1971 with a European Champion title for Ford in the touring car championships and a win at the 24-hour Spa-Francorchamps event. He also held the title of German Motor Sport Champion in 1973 and 1974. However, following a severe accident caused by tyre damage at the touring car race in Macau, Southeast China in November 1974, he ended his active motor sport career.

In 1990, Dieter Glemser became a member of the Mercedes-Benz Motor sport team. His tenure lasted for ten years and as department manager Glemser was responsible for all organisational aspects of the Mercedes-Benz Motor sport team. Between 2001 and 2008 he worked on a freelance basis for Mercedes-AMG and Daimler AG for sport and driver safety training as well as at Classic events. He continues to drive at Mercedes-Benz Classic events to this day.

Hans Herrmann, Born in Stuttgart on 23 February 1928

After his motor sport debut Mercedes-Benz racing manager Alfred Neubauer brought 25-year-old Hans Herrmann to the works team of Daimler-Benz AG at the start of the 1954 season. Herrmann finished in third place in the Swiss Grand Prix on 22 August 1954. Driving three W 196 Streamline racing cars, the Mercedes drivers finished the Avus race on 19 September 1954 with a triple victory in the order Karl Kling, Juan Manuel Fangio, Hans Herrmann.

During the 1955 racing season, Herrmann started a total of eight sports car races and ten Formula 1 races. In the Monaco Grand Prix he sat in for Kling and suffered serious injuries in an accident. Despite a full recovery he did not race for Mercedes-Benz again because the company withdrew from motor sport in October 1955. This marked the end of Herrmann’s engagement for Mercedes-Benz.

In the following years he returned to racing car and sports car competitions. After racing in Formula 2 and Formula 1 he retired from racing in 1970 with a victory in the 24-hour race of Le Mans driving a Porsche. Herrmann continues to start for Mercedes-Benz in events with historical character to the present day.

Did you know?

Mercedes-Benz Classic will be at the Goodwood Revival (14 to 16 September 2012) with five original Silver Arrows of the 1930s – and will compete in a demonstration run with racing cars of Auto Union. It will be the biggest assembly of Silver Arrows since decades.

From June 8-10, 2012, Mercedes-Benz Classic will put on an exceptionally fascinating show in the ADAC Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring.  With a history dating back to the year 1922, the ADAC Eifel race, the longest motorsport events in Germany. There is a range of about 70 events so far in 90 years on a par with classics such as the Grand Prix of Germany, France, Italy and Monaco, the 24 hour race in Le Mans or the 500-mile race in Indianapolis. With the Eifel race, names and events, cars and motorcycles as well as numerous anecdotes connected, made history.

Mercedes-Benz rally cars and touring cars from the 1960s and 1970s play just as active a part in the Eifelrennen as the renowned supercharged sports cars from the 1920s. Amongst others, the Stuttgart-based brand will bring to the Nürburgring a 310-hp (228-kW) 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK (series W 06 III) – the car Klaus Ludwig will drive in the so-called “Elefantenrennen”.

This stage of the ADAC Eifelrennen is reminiscent of the opening race at the Nürburgring in 1927, which Rudolf Caracciola and Adolf Rosenberger won in a dual-victory driving the Mercedes-Benz type S. Hence the honorary title “Champion of the Nürburgring”, which Caracciola earned for himself in the ensuing years.

The 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, which later gained fame as the “Red Sow”, and the classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (W 112) rally car will also be driven by other renowned Mercedes-Benz racing drivers, such as Jochen Mass and Dieter Glemser. The AMG Version of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 (W 109) luxury saloon drew attention in 1971 when the red touring car earned first place in its class and a second-place ranking in the overall classification at the 24 Hour Race of Spa-Francorchamps. Outfitted largely with standard equipment, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE carried on the brand’s brilliant motorsport tradition in the 1960s above all with numerous rally victories.

The “fintails” were also successful on the circuit. The 220 SE (W 111) rebuilt by Mercedes-Benz Classic, which will compete in the three-hour race for the Dunlop FHR long-distance cup, is a reminder of this success. Jochen Mass will be behind the wheel during this stage. Thus the Eifelrennen marks a new high point in the partnership between Mercedes-Benz Classic and the Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e. V. (FHR). Founded in 1983, the FHR has been promoting historic motorsport for almost 30 years and has made a significant contribution to the popularity of the current racing series with historic competition vehicles.

The ADAC Eifelrennen has been held at the Nürburgring since the opening of the legendary race track in 1927. But the event’s roots stretch back even further – from 1922 to 1926, contenders raced in a circuit around the town of Nideggen in what was called the ADAC Eifelrundfahrt-Rennen. The Eifelrennen also marked the birth of the iconic Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows. In 1934, type W 25 racing cars appeared here for the first time not in the usual white livery, but with their shiny aluminium bodywork exposed.

In 2009, ADAC relaunched the Eifelrennen as an event for vintage motorcars. With a variety of competitions for different classes and a multitude of sideshow events, the event provides an exceptional stage for the highly active scene of historic motorsport. It will also include the presentation of some 70 club vehicles by Mercedes-Benz Classic in the paddock and the big club meeting in the Mercedes arena, with an expected turn-out of over 500 classic cars.

Mercedes-Benz Classic cars at the 2012 ADAC Eifelrennen

Mercedes-Benz SSK 27/170/225 hp (series W 06 III), 1928

Of the six-cylinder supercharged sports cars in the Mercedes‑Benz S model series, type SSK (series W 06 II, W 06 III and WS 06) is the most exclusive and most fascinating version. The model designation stands for Super-Sport-Kurz (Super Sport, Short), emphasising the shorter wheelbase alongside its particularly sporty character. In the summer of 1928, works team driver Rudolf Caracciola raced the brand-new SSK to victory at the Gabelbach race and races on the mountains of Schauinsland and Mont Ventoux. In 1930 and 1931, the SSK helped him win the European Hill Climb Championship. The weight-reduced, further modified 1931 version, also known as the SSKL (Super-Sport-Kurz-Leicht (Super Sport, Short, Light), W 06 RS), also achieved spectacular victories. The win at the legendary “Mille Miglia” 1000-mile race was one of the most important of these. In April 1931, Rudolf Caracciola was the first non-Italian to win this gruelling road race from Brescia to Rome and back.

Technical data for Mercedes-Benz model series SSK 27/170/225 hp (W 06 III) road-going version

• Production period: 1928-1930
• Cylinder: 6/in-line
• Displacement: 7065 cc
• Performance: 170 hp (123 kW), with supercharger 225 hp (166 kW) at 3300 rpm
• Maximum speed: 192 km/h

Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) “FHR fintail”

To commemorate the motorsport successes of the period and to keep the tradition of the brand’s exceptional racing history alive while also making historic motorsport even more attractive for private drivers, Mercedes-Benz Classic reconstructed a type 220 SE “fintail” saloon (series W 111) in 2011, for use in historic motorsport events . The car meets the regulations of the FIA International Sporting Code, Appendix K (FIA – Féderation Internationale de l’Automobile). The vehicle is used in particular for the Dunlop FHR long-distance cup held by the Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e. V. (FHR) – the world’s biggest historical long-distance racing series as per Appendix K. True to practice for the 1960’s, the competition car closely resembles the production model from a technical standpoint. The usual modifications included stiffer suspension elements and body components, a larger fuel tank and an engine performance tuned specifically for the intended use.

Technical data for Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) “FHR fintail”

• Production period: 1959-1965
• Cylinder: 6/in-line
• Displacement: 2195 cc
• Performance: 120 hp (88 kW) at 4800 rpm
• Maximum speed: approx. 170 km/h

Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (W 112) rally car

From Argentina to Germany, the rally-car version of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE dominated the touring car scene in the years 1963 and 1964. As with all other Mercedes-Benz motorcars from the period which competed in rallies, the large “fintail” saloons were modelled closely on their standard counterparts. Daimler-Benz AG also used this fact as a selling point for the production saloons. But the saloons underwent certain modifications, depending on how they were to be used. These included reinforced chassis elements, a larger fuel tank, and changes to the engine performance, for instance, by lowering the compression ratio to achieve better engine reliability. There were also variations in the gearbox and axle ratios.

Technical data for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (W 112) rally car

• Production period: 1963-1964
• Cylinder: 6/in-line
• Displacement: 2996 cc
• Performance: 195 hp (143 kW) (production version: 160 hp/118 kW; from 1964: 170 hp /125 kW)
• Maximum speed: over 200 km/h (production version: 175 km/h to 195 km/h, depending on year of construction and rear axle ratio)

Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG (W 109)

At the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 AMG touring race car, Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz won a surprising class victory and second place in the overall classification on 24 July 1971 in the 24-hour race at Spa, Belgium. The winning car was developed by the then-virtually unknown AMG, founded in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher under the name “Ingenieursbüro, Konstruktion und Versuch zur Entwicklung von Rennmotoren” (engineer’s office, construction and testing for the development of racing engines). The modified vehicle was based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. With an output of 184 kW (250 hp), the car was absolutely unrivalled in its time. But Aufrecht and Melcher made the fastest German series production car of the period even more powerful: engine capacity grew from 6330 to 6835 cc and the performance of the improved V8 engine increased to 315 kW (428 hp). The race win at Spa marked the breakthrough for AMG and would be followed by further victories. The original car from 1971 no longer exists, but in 2006, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG was re-developed in a detailed reconstruction.

Technical data for Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG (W 109)

• Production period: 1971
• Cylinder: V8
• Displacement: 6835 cc
• Performance: 315 kW(428 hp)
• Maximum speed: 265 km/h

Drivers for Mercedes-Benz Classic at the 2012 Eifelrennen

Dieter Glemser

Born in Kirchheim/Teck on 28 June 1938.

Dieter Glemser’s career in the fast lane began with the Schorndorf Hill Climb race in 1960. Many class victories followed in various mountain and circuit races on the Nürburgring.

Glemser began racing for Daimler-Benz AG in 1963, winning overall in a Mercedes 220 SE at the Poland Rally and taking second place in both the Germany Rally (including a class win) and the Grand Prix of Argentina. In the following year, too, Glemser participated in the triple victory of the Böhringer/Kaiser, Glemser/Braungart and Rosqvist/Falk teams at the Grand Prix of Argentina.

Glemser celebrated victory once again in 1971 with a European Champion title for Ford in the touring car championships and a win at the 24-hour Spa-Francorchamps event. He also held the title of German Motor Sport Champion in 1973 and 1974. However, following a severe accident caused by tyre damage at the Macau Touring Car Race, Southeast China, in November 1974, he decided to end his active motorsport career.

For ten years from 1990, Dieter Glemser was a member of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport team, and as hed of department, he was responsible for the organisation. From 2001 to 2008, he worked on a freelance basis for Mercedes-AMG and Daimler AG for sport and driver safety training as well as at Classic events. He continues to drive at Mercedes-Benz Classic events to this day.

Klaus Ludwig

Born in Bonn on 5 October 1949.

Klaus Ludwig started in motorsport by competing in slalom races, orienteering excursions and touring car races from 1970 to 1973. He went on to achieve high rankings in the German Racing Championship and secured victories here in 1979 and 1981, in addition to three wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979, 1984 and 1985.

In 1988, he won the German Touring Car Championship with Ford, then joined the AMG-Mercedes team in 1989, driving to victory 19 times in the five years that followed. The high points of his career were the driver’s title in the championships of 1992 and 1994 as well as a second place finish in 1991 – successes which earned him the nickname “King Ludwig”. In 1995 and 1996, Klaus Ludwig competed in the German Touring Car Championship for Opel’s Team Rosberg.

In 1997 and 1998, Ludwig was once again driving for Mercedes-Benz, this time in the FIA GT Championship, winning the overall ranking together with Ricardo Zonta in 1998. In the first season of the new German Touring Car Championship, he was the oldest contender to date to win a race, in 2000, and concluded the season in third place overall in a Mercedes-Benz CLK. When the season was over, he ended his active career as a professional racing driver.

Jochen Mass

Born in Dorfen near Wolfratshausen/Munich on 30 September 1946.

Jochen Mass, originally a trained seaman, began his richly varied motorsport career in 1968 racing touring cars for Alfa-Romeo and as a works team driver for Ford between 1970 and 1975. During this time, he won the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (1972). At the same time, he drove in Formula 2 (1973) and in 105 Formula 1 Grand Prix races (1973/74 for Surtees; 1975-1977 for McLaren; 1978 for ATS; 1979/80 for Arrows; 1982 for March).

With the 1985 German Sports Car Championship title and a stint as a works driver at Porsche until 1987 under his belt, he was recruited for the Sauber-Mercedes team, also as a works driver. He drove in Group C for this team until 1991. In the new Silver Arrow, the Sauber-Mercedes C 9, Jochen Mass won the 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens and finished runner-up in the 1989 World Championship. Three years later, Mass became involved in team management for the German Touring Car Championship.

Sir Stirling Moss described him as “a highly skilled driver with an incredible feel for race cars and in-depth knowledge of motorsport of all ages”. Jochen Mass still represents Mercedes-Benz at historical racing events and at vintage super sports car events such as the ADAC Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring. Whether in a Silver Arrow W 165 or a Mercedes-Benz SSK, Jochen Mass knows and drives them all.

Thanks to a courts ruling, Mercedes-Benz Classic has destroyed the replica body of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.  The courts ruled that it was not legal to market the body, which was seized by German customs officials.

The body shape of the legendary gullwing model has been trademarked by Daimler AG. Anyone building, offering or selling replicas of the vehicle is in breach of the Company’s rights. This even applies if the replicas do not incorporate any logos or trademarks of the Company. Daimler AG has long taken a tough approach to vehicle replicas.

As a work of applied art, the body of the 300 SL has been under copyright protection for a number of decades. The employees who designed the famous gullwing model in the 1950s granted Daimler AG comprehensive exploitation rights. The body shape has also been trademarked by Daimler AG, as recently confirmed by the Stuttgart regional court (case no. 17 O 304/10, final and binding judgment dated 9 December 2010, following withdrawal of an appeal).

A case had arisen in which a company based in Germany had built an unlawful replica of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198 series). The first step in destroying the replica was to separate the chassis from the body. The Mercedes-Benz used-parts center, which is also responsible for scrapping all Mercedes-Benz prototypes from the development units, then destroyed the body on behalf of Daimler AG. The certified equipment used in the centre includes two presses, each applying over 30 tonnes of pressure. The replica sports car had a fibreglass body weighing precisely 148 kilograms, which the compressor smashed into small pieces. This dramatic end to the unlawful body was officially documented with a signed and stamped ‘confirmation of scrappage’.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198 series) is one of the best known cars in the world. It was launched on the market in 1954 as a coupé with distinctive gullwing doors. In 1999, an international panel of judges voted it ‘sports car of the century’. Today, the original gullwing model and its roadster variant, which was introduced in 1957, are two of the most coveted vehicles on the international classic car scene. All the major car collections worldwide feature the 300 SL – an icon of design and engineering expertise.

If you weren’t one of the 701,000 visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum last year for the 125th anniversary of the automobile, you truly missed out on a great experience. Visitors from over 175 countries around the globe made the trek to the Stuttgart museum to view the newly designed Legend 6 exhibition room and the special ‘Art & Stars & Cars’ exhibition. But, don’t worry, 2012 is gearing up to be even better. The first half of the year will focus on the new Mercedes SL and at Mercedes-Benz Classic and at the museum, the 60-year history of the legendary SL series will be highlighted with special events and a major exhibitions running throughout the year.

Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic had this to say about 2011: “Another successful year is drawing to a close. Since the opening in May 2006, over 4.2 million people have visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum. 125 years after its invention, the automobile retains its special fascination to this day – the figures speak for themselves. We are particularly pleased about the high proportion of international visitors. Once again this year, almost a third of our guests came from abroad. This international appeal is attributable both to the anniversary year of the automobile and to our extensive programme in 2011.”

People from all over the world flock to see the first ever automobile

The visitors from a total of 175 countries reflect the international character of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. In 2010 visitors came from 158 countries. The share of international guests has risen by almost half in recent years, to 27 percent. The majority of guests came from Germany, followed by China, USA, France and Switzerland. There has been a sharp increase in the number of Chinese guests since 2009, resulting in a steady climb for China from fourth to second place in the visitor rankings.

How did the visitors become aware of the Mercedes-Benz Museum? While almost 40 percent relied on recommendations from friends and acquaintances, 7 percent of visitors stated that they had been prompted to visit the museum by the increased media coverage in the anniversary year. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have given rise to a two-fold increase in awareness of the museum as a leisure destination.

Many of the guests visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum for the first time in the year marking the 125th anniversary of the invention of the automobile. The top rankings from regular visitor surveys in 2011 confirm the guests’ satisfaction, with over 90 percent of all visitors stating that their expectations had been surpassed and 98 percent confirming that they would recommend the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Two thirds of all visitors spent more than three hours at the automobile exhibition covering 16,000 square metres.

Group visitors and children’s programs on the increase

Almost 4,000 guided tours in 2011 marked a new record for the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The classic Automobile guided tour, carried out in a total of ten languages, remains the leading attraction. Exclusive after-hours tours in the evening, guided tours of the Untertürkheim and Bad Cannstatt engine factories and the special guided tour of the ‘Art & Stars & Cars’ exhibition also proved very popular.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum has also become a yet more attractive destination for groups: over 5,000 groups comprising a total of over 100,000 persons visited the exhibition – more than ever before. In addition, over 1900 school classes took advantage of the educational programme in the GeniusCampus area for children and young people. Another programme offered by the GeniusCampus enjoyed particular popularity, with almost 1000 children visiting over 80 children’s birthday parties held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The new programme “Motor mechanics for adults” also became firmly established, with over 100 workshops offering almost 850 participants an opportunity to lean more about present-day engine technology.

Outstanding exhibitions and events in 2011

For the inventor of the automobile, the anniversary marking 125 years of the automobile played a major role this year, as the Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only venue in the world where visitors can take in the entire history of the automobile – from Benz’s patented motor car dating from 1886 to futuristic vehicle studies.

The year kicked off with the opening of the new exhibition room Legend 6, ‘New start – the Road to Emission-free Mobility’, which has since won various awards. The new exhibition room grants visitors an insight into the future and outlines the drive technologies of tomorrow. The future has already arrived for visitors arriving at the Mercedes-Benz Museum by e-vehicle, with six electric charging stations offering free electric power to replenish the vehicles’ batteries during visits to the museum.

The special exhibition ‘Art & Stars & Cars’ shows the museum in a similarly pioneering and innovative vein. This first art exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum was conceived in collaboration with the Daimler Art Collection. A highlight of the exceptional exhibition comprising over 120 works was Andy Warhol’s legendary Cars series, which was produced 25 years ago on the occasion of the car’s centenary. The Mercedes-Benz Museum also celebrated its fifth birthday in the middle of the anniversary year, on 22 May 2011. This proved one of the busiest days of the year, drawing over 5000 guests. The museum’s summer season revolved around firm favourites such as the jazzopen stuttgart, the Mercedes-Benz Lounge and the Open Air Cinema programme – this year featuring the drive-in cinema event for the first time, which sold out in next to no time. Families with children were able to take part in Universal Children’s Day at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in September, while the collectors’ fair in November offered brand aficionados another opportunity to pick up some gems. This year, the Mercedes-Benz Museum once again offered events tailored to visitors with special needs – most recently on the Day of People with Disability in December.

2012 – spotlight on the Mercedes-Benz SL

“It will be a challenge to top 2011,” observes Michael Bock. “But we have ambitious plans for 2012 and some great exhibitions in store. For the Mercedes-Benz brand, the first half of the year will center on the new SL. At Mercedes-Benz Classic and at the museum we will be highlighting the 60-year history of the legendary SL series with special events and a major exhibition. All the models in one room – that will be a spectacle not to be missed. I am also looking forward to the 2012 Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film. As a partner to the festival, we will be presenting a special award – again focusing on the topic of 60 years of the SL. The special exhibition ‘Timeless – 60 years of the Mercedes-Benz SL’ will begin on 24 January 2012 and run until 2 September 2012.

Restoring cars has long been a hobby for father and son, but for a small group of mechanics at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, it’s an incredibly unique job.  The job is to make the classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles exactly what they were when they first rolled out of the factory, every detail an exact match – the trick is to do it without leaving a trace that they were there.  Regardless of whether you are interested in the story of the men at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, the cars are beautiful and it is worth the three minutes.

A ‘Fintail’ based on the Mercedes-Benz 220 SE model (W 111 series) will compete in the season final of the long-distance cup organised by Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e.V. (FHR) on 22 and 23 October 2011 at the Nürburgring. Its participation in this race reflects the commitment of Mercedes-Benz Classic to upholding the traditions of the brand, which itself has a remarkable history in motor racing, and encouraging private drivers to take part in historical motorsport events. Mercedes-Benz Classic is a partner of the FHR race series. The ‘Fintail’ will be driven by British journalist Andrew Frankel and former touring car driver Klaus Ludwig. The vehicle has been built by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in accordance with the regulations laid down in Appendix K of the international sports regulations of the FIA (Féderation Internationale de l’Automobile).

Founded in 1983, the FHR has been promoting historical motor racing for almost 30 years and has made a significant contribution to boosting the popularity of the current race series with historical competition cars. The FHR, which has been under the auspices of ADAC Nordrhein since 2000, currently has around 600 active members.

Events taking place during the 2011 season include the ‘FHR HTGT for the Dunlop Trophy’ held as a series of sprint races for pre-1971 GT and touring cars, and the ‘Dunlop FHR Long Distance Cup’, a series of long-distance races for pre-1971 GT vehicles and touring cars built before 1976. In addition, there will be two series for formula vehicles.

Through its involvement in this fascinating sport, Mercedes-Benz is not only demonstrating its commitment to the active historical motorsport scene, but is also paying tribute to an exciting chapter in its own history. When the era of Mercedes victories in Formula One World Championships and racing cars ended in 1955, Mercedes-Benz enjoyed great success for a number of years in international long-distance races and rallies. This period was characterised in particular in the early 1960s by the ”Fintail’ saloons with six-cylinder engines (220 SE and 300 SE models), which also served as a model for the new Mercedes-Benz 220 SE.

Typically, there was not much difference technically between competition cars and production models in the 1960s. The usual modifications included reinforcement of chassis elements and body components, a bigger fuel tank and adjustment of the engine characteristics to suit the specific purpose.

The principle of designing a powerful competition car that is closely based on stock technology is one that Mercedes-Benz Classic followed closely when building the 220 SE for the FHR Long Distance Cup. The modifications made to the production vehicle by the specialists at the Classic Center included equipping the interior with a safety cage with a safety quick-release lock for side impact protection elements such as cross door bars and protective side moulding (Fix Opening and Closure Security System, or FO-CS for short). In addition, the tail fin has been fitted with a fire extinguishing system and a 100-litre FT3 safety tank. In future, the car will also boast 5.5 x 15 wheels fitted with 6 x 15 tyres. Naturally, the W 111 also features the same classic light grey paint finish (shade DB 140) as used on vehicles between 1961 and 1964.

Mercedes-Benz 220 SE vehicle data

• Engine: six-cylinder (in-line)
• Bore x stroke: 80 x 72.8 mm
• Cubic capacity: 2195 cc
• Output: 120 bhp (88 kW) at 4800 rpm
• Maximum torque: 19.3 mkg (189 Nm) at 3900 rpm
• Front axle: double wishbone, coil springs, anti-roll bar, telescopic shock absorbers
• Power transmission: via propshaft on rear axle
• Rear axle: single-joint swing axle with compensating spring, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers
• Brakes: hydraulic braking system with brake booster
• Front brakes: disk brakes, diameter: 253 mm
• Rear brakes: Duplex drum brakes with turbo-cooled Alfin drums, diameter:
• 230 mm
• Transmission: 4-speed manual transmission with floor shift
• Clutch: single-plate dry clutch
• Top speed: approx. 170 km/h

Mercedes-Benz Classic and Mercedes-Benz USA will be showing off some of their finest vehicles at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 21, 2011. This year’s Concours d’Elegance is marked among other things by the 125 years of the automobile anniversary. To commemorate this anniversary, a replica of the Benz Patent Motor Car of 1886 will be on display . As in past years, this years Pebble Beach Concours includes a drive and an auction, all dedicated to the most elegant, most outstanding automobiles.

Since 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, has been the preeminent showcase for automotive elegance internationally. The enthusiasm and passion of collectors from all over the world who strive to be successful here with their cars is unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Since the event was initiated, Mercedes-Benz vehicles have had a regular spot on the lawn in front of the lodge. In addition to more than 120 class victories and special prizes, vehicles from Mercedes-Benz have won the “Best of Show” award several times.

This year, during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance a number of outstanding vehicles will be presented to the international audience. The Mercedes racing car designed by Wilhelm Maybach in 1906 was one of the most advanced vehicles of its day and features forward-looking details: for instance its six-cylinder engine has overhead camshafts, overhead valves and a dual high-voltage spark plug ignition. Because of its frame design the vehicle has a very low centre of gravity.

The 200 hp Benz of 1909 was given the byname “Blitzen Benz” – Lightning Benz – because of its outstanding performance. Among other things it was the first petrol-powered automobile in the world to post speeds over 200 km/h. The vehicle shown in Pebble Beach is a faithful reproduction using an authentic engine.

Of the supercharged six-cylinder sports cars of the Mercedes-Benz S series, the SSK (W 06 series) is the most exclusive and fascinating model. The model designation stands for “Super-Sport-Kurz” (super-sport-short) and besides emphasising the car’s special sportiness also indicates its shortened wheelbase. The SSK dominated the international motorsport scene in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Special exhibition “125 years inventor of the automobile”

In addition, Mercedes-Benz USA is organising an exhibition in its pavilion at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to mark the “125 years inventor of the automobile” anniversary. A replica of the Benz Patent Motor Car of 1886 will be on display there, a so-called American Mercedes (1905), a Silver Arrow W 154 Grand Prix racing car (1939), a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198, 1954), a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 180, 1958) and a Mercedes-Benz 600 (W 100, 1969). The “Aesthetics 125!” sculpture created by Mercedes-Benz Design opens a window on the future of the brand. Concept car versions of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster and the next generation of the A-Class represent the more immediate future. And the F-Cell Roadster shows how Carl Benz perhaps would have built his Patent

A typical day at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center based in Irvine, California includes a 1950s Gullwing vehicle restoration, researching the owner history of a 1937 540K and finding a spare part among the 50,000 available for classic Mercedes-Benz cars. With the backing of 125 years of history, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center has wisdom beyond its years considering it was started just five years ago.

By offering customers hard to find parts or meticulous repair and restorations to the prime condition of factory standards of originality and preservation, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center has grown to service over 6,200 customers in the past 60 months. The success behind the Classic Center is driven by qualified Mercedes-Benz brand technicians and a dedicated approach to providing unique services in the marketplace.

“The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center is in a unique position because of the knowledge and resources that we have onsite and can tap as a result of being part of the oldest car company in the world,” said Mike Kunz, Manager of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA. “Our customers trust us with special cars that are valuable either monetarily, historically or sentimentally, and know that their vehicles are being reviewed or worked on by experts in their field that are backed by 125 years of history.”

The only one of its kind in the United States, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine maintains its close partnership with the Classic Center in Fellbach, Germany, which provides a direct link to access the parts, tools, service manuals and production records needed to work on vintage Mercedes-Benz automobiles. The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center sustains the lifetime service of these vehicles by helping customers locate and purchase even the rarest parts needed for certain models and by maintaining an exhaustive archive of materials that document the vehicles history dating back to the original owner. Technical and historic brand experts from the Classic Center can even access a vehicle’s original build sheet and other archived data – often free of charge for a Classic Center customer. These services embody the authenticity of the brand promise and values as Mercedes-Benz vehicles are built to endure many lifetimes.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center has gone to great lengths in restoring customer vehicles. In fact, its latest endeavor includes a full mechanical restoration of a 1910 Mercedes-Benz Simplex originally owned by one of the founders of R. H. Macy & Co. The vehicle sat for many years without running and technicians at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center are in the process of bringing it back to life, which includes the fabrication of a water pump and radiator.

Beyond classic car owners, Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts continue to visit the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center throughout the year to browse vintage vehicles on display, take advantage of retail car services or shop the boutique, which contains a range of auto memorabilia, accessories and literature. The Classic Center also hosts numerous special events and parties. While many brands claim a strong following for their classic models, Mercedes-Benz can point to world-renowned durability and owner dedication as foundation stones for the Classic Center business success. In many markets, decades-old Mercedes-Benz models are a common sight on the roads, and the 60 authorized Mercedes-Benz clubs around the world include some 130,000 members that look to the Classic Center as a sanctuary and “garage majal” for the three pointed star.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center staff provides support to these enthusiasts outside its garage doors participating in numerous classic car events throughout the year ranging from the Colorado Grand to the Amelia Island and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Over the past several years, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center has taken a leadership role in support of education for proper restoration technique through a scholarship program with McPherson College, located in McPherson, Kansas. The scholarship program supports three students each semester and provides an internship at The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center where real world experience is learned first hand to develop the future leaders pursuing a career in automobile restoration business.

What are the strengths of the Mercedes-Benz brand? Speed, power and style, visionary technology and an awareness of history and last but not least, least elegance and luxury.These are the qualities that are drawing thousands of visitors to the Festival of Speed 2011 and have been year after year. Mercedes-Benz Classic is a regular at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and will also be participating at this year’s event, which is scheduled to be held from July 1st to the 3rd, 2011 under the theme “Racing Revolutions – Quantum leaps that shaped motor sport”. Its line-up of landmark racing cars is set to negotiate the 1.86 kilometer (1.15 mile) long hillclimb circuit. And in 2011 Mercedes-Benz Classic will also be presenting the exhibition “125! years inventor of the automobile” which celebrates milestones of the brand’s history, right back to its origins with Carl Benz’s Patent Motor Car from 1886.

Motorsport revolutions

The concerted will to innovate embraced by Mercedes-Benz and the predecessor brands is thus reflected on the racetrack as well as in the exhibition. After all, Mercedes-Benz “Racing Revolutions” are the brand’s racing cars with a string of victories to their name. And these successes were not just down to the drivers’ skill but essentially also fruit of the engineers’ tireless determination to come up with new solutions for the racing cars. Such developments have consistently been those “quantum leaps that shaped motor sport”, as echoed in the 2011 festival theme.

This year Goodwood will be host to legendary racing cars that are all set to tackle the hillclimb circuit. The line-up includes the W 165 Silver Arrow designed specifically for the Tripoli Grand Prix in 1939, the 300 SL (W 194) racing sports car from 1952 (claimed victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours) and the 190 2.5 16V EVO II touring car used in the DTM from 1990. The current Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, which will line up on the starting grid in the FIA GT3 Championship, will represent contemporary high-performance cars.

In keeping with the Festival’s tradition, high-profile racing drivers such as Sir John Surtees, Paul Stewart, Klaus Ludwig and Bernd Schneider will take the cars around the hillclimb circuit.

The “125! years inventor of the automobile” exhibition starts with the foundation of automotive history – the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886. Among the exhilarating engineering and style icons also on show in the exhibition will be the Mercedes Simplex 40 hp from 1902, a Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabriolet B (W 29) from 1936, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupé (W 198), a Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Cabriolet (W 111), a Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster (W 113) from the 1960s, a Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 (W 116) launched in 1975 and the very latest Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé (C 197).

From art to the top flight of motorsport

The Festival of Speed, which was inaugurated in1993, was the brainchild of Charles Gordon-Lennox, Earl of March and Kinrara. The dedicated motorsport fan and Goodwood host bears the title Lord March. His grandfather, the former Earl of March and 9th Duke of Richmond, laid the foundation for the Festival. He was well-known in England as the car designer, engineer and racing driver Freddie March. In 1936 he organised the very first private hillclimb circuit in Goodwood Park. His grandson would rekindle this tradition more than 50 years later.

The Festival has developed from the inaugural event in 1993 into one of the unmissable highlights in the international cultural calendar for automotive fans. Racing and sports cars from across the ages play the symphonies of speed on the circuits for three whole days. Even the top flight of motorsport is represented: at least nine of this season’s Formula One teams are scheduled to participate in Goodwood in 2011, including Mercedes GP and McLaren-Mercedes. A 2.5-kilometre-long rally course was added in 2007 to supplement the hillclimb course.

Leisurely afternoon stroll and automotive fascination

The Festival of Speed is just as much an exhilarating motorsport event as it is an opportunity to stroll along in style and lap up some automotive culture: from the pits, open to all visitors, through vehicle exhibitions in the park grounds, to the automotive works of art created every year by British sculptor Gerry Judah. His temporary sculptures, which are located right in front of Goodwood House, always centre around a single brand and its particular vehicles. In 2001 the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was the subject of the work of art at the then Festival of Speed.