Out on the road, nothing draws the eye quite like beautifully restored ‘classic’ vehicles. It’s hard not to feel a sense of nostalgia in their presence – they evoke memories of a bygone era and remind us that true craftsmanship stands the test of time.

Car manufacturers, collectors, enthusiasts and anyone else with a passion for vintage automobiles will agree they’re unique pieces of history that should be treasured, and this is a philosophy Mercedes-Benz embraces wholeheartedly. From the first ‘modern’ automobile in 1901 – the Mercedes 35 hp – through to sports icons such as the 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ and countless other model series, we believe preserving our past is just as important as our current and future endeavours.

Vintage perfection

Mercedes-Benz is proud to have a rich collection of restored icons. Some of the vehicles in our collection were restored by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre, while others were procured from owners and collectors. One stunning example found right here in Australia is a 1924 Benz 11/40 Tourer.

Built by Benz & Cie Mannheim in Germany, the car was first purchased in 1924 from Lanes Motors in Melbourne for the sum of £1050 – which, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia, is equivalent to approximately A$102,014.23 today. The buyer was Florence Hewett, a woman from Ballarat whose father came to Australia to try his luck on the Goldfields.

The Tourer boasted a six-cylinder engine (bore 72mm, stroke 117m), four-speed transmission, 4480mm chassis length with a 3204mm wheelbase, and 65-litre fuel tank. When Florence died in 1935, the car passed to her son, who drove it up until 1952, before handing in his licence at the age of 90. He died the following year.

After passing through several owners, the car was purchased by Sydney’s Yorkstar Motors in 1978, in a complete but derelict condition. It was restored that year and successfully completed a rally to Coffs Harbour in 1979. The engine was then rebuilt in 1988, the transmission having never been overhauled – a testimony to the model’s durability.

In 2000, Brisbane-based car restorer Sleeping Beauties, who specialise in vintage and classic restorations, completed the restoration to the highest standards for the current owners: Mercedes-Benz Australia. Today, it remains a symbol of what is achievable through dedication to preservation.

‘Heritage creates future’

Of course, Mercedes-Benz isn’t just a collector of vintage vehicles – the work of Mercedes-Benz Classic is invaluable in preserving pieces of brand history.

The guiding motto of Mercedes-Benz Classic is ‘heritage creates future’ – emphasising the important role history plays in laying the foundation for future innovations in automotive design and technology.

“Our brand is the oldest luxury car manufacturer in the world, and it stands firmly on the foundation of its own history,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic.

“On this basis, we are always looking to the future. This is what the guiding principle of Mercedes-Benz Classic, ‘Heritage creates futureʼ, stands for – the companyʼs strong culture of innovation and the continuous pursuit of the best solutions make our top-of-the-line products possible.”

The responsibilities of this division include managing the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Classic Centre, Genuine Parts, Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive and Classic Vehicle Collection, Classic Vehicle Dealerships and Mercedes-Benz Classic Clubs located around the world.

Arguably, the most important task of Mercedes-Benz Classic is maintaining and restoring historic Mercedes-Benz vehicles to their original condition in the most genuine way possible.

Inside the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre

With locations in the Stuttgart region and California, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre is the first point of contact for factory restorations, repairs and maintenance – and many customers from around the world rely on the services it offers.

The restoration process begins with experts at the Classic Centre appraising an individual vehicle. Original company documentation is accessed to ensure the precision and authenticity of their work. These documents provide detailed evidence of the status and history of the vehicles.

Each appraisal includes extensive archive research as well as examination of the vehicle itself. This is done by workshop specialists to ensure authentic materials, match vehicle numbers and specify original parts, for example. Expert appraisals by Mercedes-Benz Classic are recognised worldwide as documents with unique significance.

Undertaking the technical restoration work, Mercedes-Benz vintage specialists keep as many of the existing components as possible in order to preserve the vehicle’s original condition in the optimal way. If this is not possible, they use genuine parts from Mercedes-Benz Classic, manufactured according to the original specifications, to achieve a true and authentic result and help maintain the car’s value. Maintenance and repairs are also provided by the Classic Centre, whether for everyday restorations or when preparing exclusive vehicles for vintage car events.

Though Mercedes-Benz is proud to be a future-focused brand with a legacy of technological and design innovation, history has always been an important guide. The restoration and preservation of cars from the last 138 years of automotive evolution is not only an exciting and worthy mission – it’s a stark reminder of where we’ve come from, back down the road.

Find out more about our history and brand.