The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center Has Wisdom Beyond Its Years
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.
About The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center is located in a 28,000 square-foot,
state-of-the-art facility at 9 Whatney in Irvine, California, adjacent
to Interstates 5 and 405. Providing complete, specialized services for
Mercedes-Benz classic cars Monday through Friday between the hours of
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Classic Center staff can be reached by phone at
1-866-MBCLASSIC (1-866-622-5277). More information about the Classic
Center can be found at www.mbusa.com/classiccenter.
Content courtesy of MBUSA