- Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and 300 S Cabriolet voted “Classics of the year”
- SLS AMG Roadster is a “Classic of the future”
- Votes submitted by some 25,000 readers of specialist German motoring magazine “Auto Bild Klassik”
Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz has good reason to celebrate. “Golden Classic Steering Wheel” awards were announced today for three of the Stuttgart brand’s vehicles in the annual reader poll of the German magazine “Auto Bild Klassik”. “A great result for us.
Especially since the result is based on the views of the readers of “Auto Bild Klassik”, who clearly think a lot of Mercedes-Benz”, said Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “And we want to make sure that they continue to do so.”
The Stuttgart brand was able to celebrate wins in three separate categories: first place in the category “Sports cars & Coupés” was awarded to the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194). In its heyday, this sleek racing sports car of 1952 with its unusual gullwing doors sped round the race tracks of the world to take victory on numerous occasions.
Following a full restoration, the oldest vehicle of this type still in existence went on display to the public in early 2012.
Now 21.4 per cent of the readers who took part in the “Auto Bild Klassik” poll have voted for the legendary racer, putting it undisputed in first place.
In the category “Cabrios & Roadsters”, it was the Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet (W 188) that topped the list. Between 1952 and 1955, just 203 examples were built of this elegant, open vehicle with its fully lined soft top. More than a quarter of readers (26.9 per cent) could not resist the fascination of this exclusive vehicle and voted to make it the winner in its class.
Pure power and perfect design are also superbly combined in the winning car under the heading “Classics of the future”. In this case the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster took first place in the category “Cabrios and Roadsters” with 22.6 per cent of votes – followed closely by the new Mercedes-Benz SL (R 231), which took second spot in this category.
The widely respected competition “Golden Classic Steering Wheel” was run this year for the third time by the specialist magazine “Auto Bild Klassik”. A total of 24,906 readers of the “Auto Bild Klassik” magazine and its online issue took part.
Awards were made in the five categories of “Classics of the year”, “Classics of the future”, “Find of the year”, “Restoration of the year” and “Personality of the year”. The full results may be found online at www.autobild.de/klassik-lenkrad.
Were you already aware?
Two exhibitions about motor sport history, both very well worth seeing, will be taking place between October and January:
• “Mille Miglia – passion and rivalry” at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, 10 October 2012 to 6 January 2013.
• “Silver Arrows 1934-1939” at the Louwman Museum, The Hague, Netherlands, 11 October 2012 to 6 January 2013.
