Historic Mercedes-Benz Concours 2011 to mark brand’s 125th Anniversary
On 29 January 1886, German engineer Karl Benz registered patent number 37435 for a ‘vehicle with gas-engine drive’ dubbed the ‘Patent-Motorwagen’. That historic invention marked the birth of the automobile industry, and it has now been 125 years since that fateful day at the Berlin Patent Office.
At about the same time, another chap by the name of Gottlieb Daimler, in collaboration with Wilhelm Maybach, was similarly working on a four-wheeled motor car. Daimler and Maybach’s efforts were independent of Benz’s but fate eventually brought Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft together in a merger which took place in 1926.
The resultant company of the merger was Daimler-Benz, which since became DaimlerChrysler AG and now simply Daimler AG. Since the end of World War II in 1945, the company has delivered a grand total of 30 million automobiles worldwide, all of them being engineering pinnacles of their day.
To mark the 125th anniversary of Benz’s invention, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is joining forces with Historic Motoring Ventures (M) Sdn Bhd to organize the first “Historic Mercedes-Benz Concours 2011″ to be held on 8 May 2011 at the Palace of Golden Horses, Mines Resort City.
“The pioneering efforts of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler led in the shaping and development of the Mercedes-Benz. Daimler trail-blazed the development of the automobile more diversely and enduringly than any other motor vehicle manufacturer – in all relevant areas from drivetrain technology, to comfort and safety through to design,” said Roland S Folger, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
Folger’s statement echoes a well-known mantra amongst automobile enthusiasts that the best indication of the car’s future is always none other than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Many items that you take for granted in your Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla today were once luxury items pioneered by the Mercedes flagship.
The first Mercedes-Benz to arrive in Malaysia was bought by the late Sultan Sir Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor in 1910, but it wasn’t until 1951 that Cycle & Carriage was awarded distributorship of the brand in the then Malaya. While still inextricably linked with the brand, C&C’s role is now that of a dealer with the formation of DaimlerChrysler Malaysia (now Mercedes-Benz Malaysia) in 2003. Some 100,000 units of Mercedes-Benz vehicles have since found homes in Malaysia through official channels.
Participation in the Historic Mercedes-Benz Concours is open to all Mercedes-Benz vehicles built no later than 1989, although W126 Coupes up till 1991 are allowed. Participating cars will be divided into three categories – vintage (pre 1960), Classics (1961 – 1975) and Modern Classics (1976 onwards).
The cars will be judged by an independent panel of judges which includes a classic car expert from Mercedes-Benz’s Classic Car Centre in Germany. The judging criteria covers preparation, condition, correctness, cleanliness and originality. Areas evaluated will be: Engine & Engine Compartment, Exterior, Interior & Trunk/Boot and Undercarriage/Suspension/Wheels.
Owners of the winning car in each category will win an all-expense paid trip for two to the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Classic Car Centre in Germany.
Registration for the Historic Mercedes-Benz Concours 2011 closes on 4 May and owners of classic Mercedes-Benz cars can register online (www.mercedes-benz.com.my/125) or contact 1-800-88-1133 for more information.
