HISTORIA Mobilis has found a new home: on 14 May 2012, this interest group for Daimler employees, which was founded in 2005 and embraces all brands, became part of SG Stern Stuttgart.
From 8 to 10 June 2012, Mercedes-Benz Classic will put on a fascinating show in the ADAC Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring. Legendary cars from various motorsport eras and world-famous Mercedes-Benz racing drivers recall the brand’s close connection with the history of Germany’s most traditional motorsport event, which dates back to 1922. The close collaboration with the clubs is a further element of the brand’s strong presence this year.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mercedes-Benz enjoyed much success in international endurance races and rallies. The period at the start of the 1960s was shaped above all by the 220 SE and 300 SE “fintail” saloons with six-cylinder engines.
The history of Mercedes-Benz is rife with vehicles which have captivated and enticed enthusiasts and continue to do so to this day. This is particularly true of the legendary supercharged sports cars of types S, SS (W 06) and SSK (W 06 II) from the late 1920s and the early 1930s. These are amongst the few vehicles which have become legends in the history of the car.
Mercedes-Benz Classic will be taking four genuine pre-war Silver Arrows to this year’s Goodwood Revival (14 – 16 September 2012). One of them is a Grand Prix car from the W 125 series which was specially constructed for the 1937 season. This car made its first appearance 75 years ago and promptly presented Mercedes-Benz with an extremely successful racing season, taking the brand onto the medallists’ podium once again.
From the outset, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194 series) was conceived exclusively for racing. Its uncompromising form caused a considerable stir at its presentation on 12 March 1952. Ten racing cars of this type were then built for the 1952 racing season. The 300 SL (W 194 series) was successful in all the well-known sports car events in the 1952 season.
Mercedes-Benz’s association with the Mille Miglia is an enthralling story, full of great sporting moments. The high points include the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car’s (model series W 194) first entry into the 1000-mile race 60 years ago: in May 1952, Karl Kling scored second and former champion Rudolf Caracciola came fourth. This represented a promising start to Mercedes-Benz’s return to the international motorsport arena.
Thanks to Mercedes-Benz Classic, automotive dreams, from the first car to classic cars all the way through to the young classics, fall under one lucky star. The Classic division makes the tradition and legend of the Mercedes-Benz brand tangible for all, through the Museum, the Classic Center, Archives and Collection departments as well as through Club Management. The management team is made up of experienced, long-time Daimler AG staff members.
Elegant, fast, breathtakingly beautiful and technically innovative: the stunning SL-Class sports cars have represented the Mercedes-Benz brand around the world for the past 60 years. Their story of success began with the victories recorded by the 300 SL racing car (W 194) at prestigious international races in 1952.
With immediate effect, Malte Dringenberg will be taking over as Head of the Mercedes-Benz Classic press team. He was previously Press Officer at Fiat Group Automobiles Germany AG for the Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands.
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has always set the highest design standards in all model series. Both outside and in, the vehicles are as if hewn from the same block and most show their credentials as future classics during their own production lifetime. The word “design”, also adopted in German for the creative process from English usage, incorporates the concept of technical design, of engineering in the English sense of the word.
Mercedes-Benz Classic has destroyed the replica body of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The courts have ruled that it is not legal to market the body, which was seized by German customs officials.
