Recognising the ‘Young Classics’ from Mercedes-Benz

Whether a son wants to drive the car his father drove, the young exuberant type wants to differentiate himself from the mainstream, or the well-established Doctor wants to fulfil a childhood dream, what they all have in common is the desire for an automobile with ‘character’.

For many younger motoring enthusiasts, as well as for those who have remained young at heart, driving a ‘Young Classic’ is seen as something of a cult. A Mercedes-Benz is even far more than this; the overall charisma it exudes has made it a part of our culture.

Every Mercedes-Benz carries on the tradition of the ‘Inventor of the Automobile’ to shape the future of individual mobility. Further characteristic qualities of the brand, such as safety and comfort, are part of this tradition and are inherent in them. The Mercedes-Benz brand has a sense of responsibility to offer the customer ‘The Best or Nothing’.

Modern classics, or ‘young timers,’ from Mercedes-Benz are becoming increasingly popular. These are stars from the period 1970 to around 1990 that are already deemed to be, or have the potential to become, ‘classic’ cars in the coming days. In Europe and the US in particular, they have become something of a cult.

Their authenticity and limited numbers in some models means that these ‘stars’ are not only fun to own, but that they can also bring an above-average return on investment in the future. In order to meet growing demand, the Stuttgart-based premium brand recently established a new division, ‘Mercedes-Benz Young Classics’.

To cater to the enthusiasts of ‘Young Classics’ in Sri Lanka, the Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka is organising a forum for the Mercedes-Benz classic car enthusiasts, with special emphasis on ‘Young Classics’: models within the years of 1970 to 1990.

This event is scheduled to be held at the Galle Face Hotel on 20 March, where enthusiasts and experts in classics and young classics will depart their knowledge along with the technical experts from Mercedes-Benz.

As in the past, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), the authorised distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka will assist owners of ‘Young Classics’ to restore their priceless beauties at special rates.

Some special offers include 50% discount on labour, 20% discount for genuine spare parts, one year warranty against unlimited mileage on all parts and workmanship, installed as per Daimler guidelines excluding wear and tear items, free vehicle technical inspection report after each service, free island-wide 24 hour road side assistance when the vehicle is maintained by DIMO, availability of vehicle service and maintenance records for better re-sale value, etc.

Speaking about restoring Mercedes-Benz Classics, Primal Wijayanayake, a great enthusiast of classic cars stated: “I restored my father’s old Mercedes-Benz W123, which was looked after well for years by him. Restoration of an old car is not easy, especially when you don’t have the time to get involved. I was advised to go to DIMO because they are the experts and are dependable. And I am very satisfied with their standards, service quality and the finish they were able to achieve on my car. Going to DIMO assured, that I get the proper finish, proper spec and the original look and feel of the car back again.”

“Only the Agents will know how the car should look and how it was many years back. I found the people at DIMO to be responsible, and careful in what they do. At the end it was worth the investment, and I couldn’t have got the same original finish anywhere else. It completes the car, and I thank DIMO for that,” Wijayanayake said, referring to the experience he received when restoring his young classic at DIMO.

What is inherent at the end is that the brand promise of a Mercedes-Benz will not only be the perfect vehicle for its owner today, when new, but that it will also be so tomorrow, as a classic car; offering at the same time a unique level of stability in terms of value.

All Mercedes-Benz Young Classic owners interested in participating at the classic car forum organised by The Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka on 20 March at the Galle Face Hotel could call Aloma on 0773 572 387 to register.