Mercedes-Benz Classic Center

The following information was supplied by Mercedes-Benz:

More than 23,000 Mercedes-Benz car enthusiasts showed up at the Classic Center during its grand opening weekend in May, 1993.
Mercedes-Benz defines "oldtimer" cars as vehicles that have been out of production for 20 years or more. (The company has been building cars since 1886.)
The company has a satellite Classic Center in Irvine, California, and is planning a third center in Shanghai, China.

Currently, some 40,000 parts are available from the Classic Center. (36,000 can be shipped from stock; parts for extremely old or rare cars can be made to order, using drawings and other data from the corporate archives.)
Every year, the Classic Center receives some 30,000 parts inquiries.
The Classic Center also supplies copies of hard-to-find parts lists, workshop handbooks, owners' manuals, technical data manuals, and maintenance booklets.

The Classic Center buys, restores, and sells about 80 classic cars per year. (About 40 percent of the workshop's restoration work is for the Mercedes-Benz Museum and other clients within the company; 60 percent is for private owners.)
A typical restoration (for example, of a 600 Series sedan) might take one to 1½ years and cost up to €750,000.
Restored cars have a three-year warranty. With proper care, a restored vehicle should last 50 years.
The Classic Center's workshop also restores Formula 1 race cars from the previous year. (F1 cars are considered "oldtimers" after just one season of racing.)
In its first 10 years of operation, the Classic Center did some 250 complete or partial car restorations. The largest job was a complete restoration of a W196 Streamliner racing car from 1954, which took five years.

Mechanics at the Classic Center are normally hired from within the company. The typical mechanic has 25 to 30 years of experience.
Classic Center mechanics have the authority to seek help from Mercedes-Benz's 7,000 master mechanics, apprentices, and engineers when they encounter problems with parts or materials. They're also able to consult with experts at Stuttgart's university without asking permission from higher-ups.

Looking for something to take home? The Classic Center manufactures full-size working replicas of the Benz No. 1 Patent Motor Car from 1886. You can buy one for €64,000.

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