The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart* is a treasure trove of precious metal representing the storied history and landmark developments. It also pays tribute to a phenomenal history of motorsport success.

As you might expect, the extensive collection amassed by the company’s own historians is an eye-opener. A total of 160 vehicles and 1500 exhibits in 12 themed rooms over nine levels includes an example of the world’s first motorised vehicle, the 1886 Patent Motorwagen, and the landmark 1901 Mercedes-Simplex 35 HP, the first proper ‘car’ to be offered for sale.

Not only are some of the most recognisable production models – such as the collectables mentioned above – represented, but also rarities and concepts that have never left the company’s possession.
One such example is the T 80, a car designed to break the land speed record in 1939 but never run due to the outbreak of World War II; even today, it still looks futuristic. In Legend Room 3 is a one-off 300 SLR that was built for the 1955 Panamericana rally before the race was scrapped. Capable of speeds up to 290 km/h, it was claimed by Mercedes-Benz chief engineer Rudolph Uhlenhaut who used it as a daily driver but also as the basis for the Uhlenhaut Coupé, said to be the era’s fastest road car.

Legend Room 7 contains a growing collection representing the brand’s motorsport success over more than half a century, from the dominant ‘Silver Arrows’ of the 1950s to Formula 1® world championship-winning cars of recent years, all arrayed on a banked track.

Trucks, buses and an array of significant passenger cars mix with exhibits dedicated to the safety, technology and luxury innovations that have kept Mercedes-Benz at the forefront of the automotive pack.

For any true enthusiast, the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart is a must-see. Virtual tours have also become available for the first time, so while you might not be able to make it to the museum in person during current lockdown restrictions, you can embark on a memorable online tour now.

*The Mercedes-Benz Museum is closed during the Covid-19 epidemic but will reopen to visitors when local restrictions are lifted.