Mercedes-Benz Classic Center opens in Long Beach, CA

MANILA: Mercedes-Benz Classic strengthens its presence in the US with a series of activities. The new Mercedes-Benz Classic Center opened in Long Beach, California last Friday, August 12. The company expands its heritage endeavors in the US with this key destination for vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles and brand enthusiasts. Visitors were invited to celebrate the grand opening at the “Classics & Coffee” event last Saturday, August 13 . In less than a week, Monterey Car Week will begin, and on Sunday, August 21, it will conclude with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The renowned Mercedes-Benz C 111 from 1969, which was never put into series production, will be on display. It will be exhibited alongside the iconic image of the car from the "Cars" series by pop artist Andy Warhol.

The next chapter of Mercedes-Benz Classic's presence in the US has begun with the official opening of the new Classic Center. The Classic Center in Irvine, south of Los Angeles has been maintaining, servicing, and authentically restoring the brand's vehicles for the past 20 years. This practice is maintained in Long Beach while the Center's range of programs is expanded. 400 guests, including customers, dealers, and representatives, were able to watch the cinematic opening of the Classic Center under the theme “A star is reborn.” This concept builds on long-standing connections: Long Beach was the capital of the motion picture industry before Hollywood. According to Mercedes-Benz Heritage Head Marcus Breitschwerdt, the Classic Center Long Beach is a “place of craftsmanship, knowledge, and expertise, a key destination for classic car enthusiasts, and a key hub for the brand's heritage.”

There has always been a strong connection between Mercedes-Benz and the United States.  The 190 SL (W 121) and 300 SL (W 198) were developed in the 1950s at the request of visionary businessman Maximilian E. Hoffmann, the brand's importer for the eastern US at the time. A significant portion of the production of these two models as well as all SL generations after them were and still are delivered to the US.

Mercedes-Benz has also maintained a strong representation at Monterey Car Week, the glamorous event for luxurious vehicles, for 26 years. A range of Mercedes-Benz models attend the event every year. The Mercedes-Benz C 111 will be the highlight this year. This svelte super sports car was unveiled to an enthusiastic international crowd in 1969. Many brand enthusiasts were disappointed that it would never go into series production. Monterey Car Week provides the rare opportunity to see another example in public, along with similarly rare masterpieces by Warhol. The C 111 super sports car will be on display at the “Andy Warhol: Cars- Works from the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection” exhibit during Monterey Car Week, as well as before and afterwards at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

This year's Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance will be led by the C 111, which will be steered by Breitschwerdt, and the new Mercedes-AMG SL 63 roadster, which will be driven by Mercedes-Benz USA President and Chief Executive Officer Dimitris Psillakis.

Mercedes-Benz will also celebrate Maybach's popularity in Monterey by unveiling the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class “Maybach by Virgil Abloh” S 680. The Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS and Concept Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture will also be on display.

Since 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance has featured some of the best vehicles in the world. Around 200 classic vehicles will vie for the title of “Best of Show.” Outstanding classic cars from Mercedes-Benz have received this accolade nine times. One of only two 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K “Autobahnkurier” vehicles ever produced from the Keller Collection in Petaluma, California, won the coveted title in 2021.

Photos from Mercedes-Benz USA

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