A two-day journey through restoration craftsmanship, automotive heritage and the world premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV.
The first day offered a close look inside the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, where historic vehicles are carefully restored and preserved. The visit revealed the painstaking work involved in bringing these cars back to exceptional condition, from attention to original details to the expertise required to protect their character and authenticity.
For me, a racing driver and classic-car enthusiast, seeing this process firsthand was a highlight. Each restoration demonstrated how technical precision and craftsmanship can give a historic vehicle a new chapter while preserving the story that makes it special.
The programme included the opening celebrations for the new Classic Center, followed by dinner surrounded by classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles an atmospheric setting that placed the brand’s history at the heart of the evening.
A central moment was the homecoming of three S-Class sedans named Bertha, Carl and Gottlieb, honouring the pioneers Bertha and Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler. Their “140 Years. 140 Places.” global journey had taken them more than 65,000 kilometres through 55 countries across six continents, before returning to Stuttgart, where the adventure began in January.
Beyond the anniversary celebrations, the journey put the S-Class through a wide variety of real-world conditions. Mountain passes, demanding roads and changing climates provided an extensive demonstration of its engineering, comfort and long-distance capabilities.
A convoy of 140 historic and current vehicles accompanied the three sedans on their final kilometres to the museum. Spanning generations of automotive development, the procession connected the origins of Mercedes-Benz with the vehicles shaping its future.
That connection continued with the world premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV. Built on the AMG.EA high-performance architecture, the new model introduced another chapter for Mercedes-AMG, bringing its performance ambitions to a full-size SUV developed in-house.
The celebrations also featured a live performance by Stuttgart band Die Fantastischen Vier, adding a musical finale to an occasion centred on the brand’s global community.
For me , the two days provided an opportunity to experience Mercedes-Benz beyond its latest models: to meet the teams preserving its legacy, witness the craftsmanship behind its classics and share in a milestone celebration of its continuing development.
From restored icons at the Classic Center to a new Mercedes-AMG unveiling at the museum, the Stuttgart programme offered a memorable perspective on how 140 years of history continue to inspire the brand’s next chapter.
