Benz Lens September 2022 Volume 37.3

Hanjo Stier

Greetings

and Salutations.

The other day, a fellow member and I were filming and photographing his humble but beautiful W202 when the topic of car collectors came up. At which point are you classified “a collector”? A wonderful discussion culminated in our agreement that the minimum requirement for a collector is to own more cars than they can fit on their property, although we quickly added terms and conditions for those truly astonishing garages we’ve seen in this Club…

Next up was the type of collector. Are you only interested in a certain era, like the glorious late sixties and early seventies, where Mercedes-Benzes were understated tanks and overengineered works of art? Or do you, like both of us, prefer the two-and-one-quarter decades that followed because the vehicles just got better and better?

We also touched on the single model collector: someone who only collects W123’s “because they are the best cars ever built.” No arguments there. I’ve also observed how Mercedes aficionados circle back to their favourite range, trying other models but eventually going for the full house: every shape, trim and engine derivative; or a combination thereof.

The most obvious – and honourable – type of collector goes for condition. Price, spec, trim or drive train are secondary to the car’s pristine state and impeccable maintenance records. My friend and I tip our collective hat to these good people, for they are the custodians of our beloved brand by preserving the best of the

breed. We are also united in our greenness, as our budgets usually don’t allow for such additions to our lots.

Then there are the unicorn chasers, a pastime which I have often succumbed to. These foolish folk are most interested in the rare stuff (note: rare, not exotic) which tends to include mid-facelift or run-out cars, where an updated body houses old tech (think facelift C36 AMG) and better still, vice versa like the wonderful facelift C107’s. Now add a bizarre colour combo and rare options to the mix, and I won’t be able to hear any of your counter-arguments over the sounds of harps, violins and angel choirs in my head.

My friend is slightly more conservative when it comes to paint and cabin colours, as I would happily purchase a blue car with panda interior. In fact, I did, and I absolutely adore it. And as for optional extras, we were once again in agreement that a fullyloaded car is just as charming as one that is “bone dry”, as the Germans would call a vehicle that has no options whatsoever. Why is that appealing? Because it shows the vehicle in its most humble, basic form. And there’s less to go wrong.

This led us to another type of owner we identified: the

Club member who only has one cherished classic. Yup, just one. That’s it. And 100% of my observations have proven that they are always very enthusiastic and extremely happy to chat about this choice, and not at all interested in extending their fleet. Which is a great idea, if you think about it. They only have one car to safely store, insure, fuel up and maintain. This also means that they don’t need a white board in their main garage, filled with colour-coded lists of tasks per car, which is another sure-fire indication that you are indeed a car collector.

Which brings me neatly to this edition of our Club newsletter. Besides the usual and wonderful regional reports, this edition is jam-packed with details and photos of the amazing Concours held at Mercedes-Benz Sandton. It’s astonishing to see the quality of vehicle preparations, stellar levels of event organisation and great spread of Mercedes models we enjoyed this year! If you weren’t there, perhaps next time you can join us?

As always, I hope this issue of the Benz Lens brings you lots of reading enjoyment.

from the President

Waldo Scribante

National Concours 2022 – Sandton, Johannesburg

It was a great to once again attend our 2022 National Concours in September. Another STAR event to remind us of what an incredible Club we belong to!

It was, as always, a privilege to have our past presidents Steve Rademeyer and Etienne Geel present.

We cannot thank Alex Boavida and MercedesBenz Sandown Motors enough, for their support and sponsorship of this event. Their awesome team went out of their way to ensure we had a perfect weekend.

Their showroom, as per usual, looked amazing and in keeping with the LUXURY of the Mercedes-Benz brand. It really was a privilege to be able to show our cars in such a lovely space, simultaneously contributing to Heritage month – beautiful display of the predecessors of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class series, organized by Pieter Booysen.

National Concours Director Sven Krassnokutski, along with his right-hand man Koos du Toit and their organising committee, deserve a huge thank you for organising this STAR event. It was a massive effort, executed to perfection. We thank you for all the time and energy that has gone into hosting a National Concours of this calibre. Well done!

We extend a special word of thanks to our judges, without whom an event of this nature would simply not be possible. We thank them for their time, commitment and absolute professionalism. Thank you, gentlemen. We were very fortunate to have you there.

Having an appreciation for all that goes into preparing cars for such an event, I am once again inspired by my fellow members. All the competitors have done such

Congratulations goes to all our participants, the d’Etat group winners, and especially Grand Prix d’Etat winner, Louis Fourie with his 1963 W111 250SE Coupé - a worthy winner!

Once again, thank you very much to our members who have sponsored our beautiful set of trophies.

a fine job and every single one deserves recognition for this.

Roley Nolfke once again won the President’s choice, but more importantly, he won for a second time the Prix d’Honneur with his 1928 MercedesBenz 260 Stuttgart. An impressive feat indeed.

Ladies Choice winner was Spike Middleton with his beautiful 1973 W114 280E.

A big thank you to our Northern regional chair, AnnaLee Dos Santos, for all the arrangements of the National Concours weekend and hosting the National Committee. We dearly appreciate it and we enjoyed a great party – thank you!

Friday night, before the Concours, the National Committee had their first official meeting since the AGM. I extended a very warm welcome to Annalie Kachelhoffer, our newly elected Vice President, as well as all members of the National Committee. We had a

very constructive meeting and, as always, I am grateful for their dedication to the Club. We also thank JanWillem, our newly elected National Secretary for all his hard work, preparing his first National Committee meeting. Well done!

On a more serious note – from October this year, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Club Management, will no-longer sponsor the printing and distribution of the international club card. A digital ClubCard will be available to paid-up members via the MB Club-lounge https://clublounge.mb-lounge.com/en/registration. html. See notice from MBCCM.

If you can’t remember your username and password, contact our Membership Secretary, Marlize Herholdt membership@mercecdesbenzclub.co.za.

More information regarding MB Club-lounge, will follow in the next Benz Lenz.

As always The Best or Nothing or in classic terms Only the Best!

With effect from the 4th quarter of 2022, we will provide the new digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard in the MercedesBenz ClubCloud (member administration) for all club members created by your club itself. With the new digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard, we are keeping up with the times and now offer your club members a digital membership card.

With the introduction of this digital card, we not only want to contribute to more sustainability by avoiding the annual replacement of hundreds of kilograms of plastic, but also offer you as a club the opportunity to reduce costs. Both for you as a club and for your members, the advantages are obvious:

ADVANTAGES FOR THE CLUB:

1. The digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard is completely free of charge for you as a club.

2. The digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard no longer needs to be ordered by you as a club. A digital card is automatically generated for all your club members who are created by the club in the Mercedes-Benz ClubCloud (member administration) and made available in the personal account of each member in the Mercedes-Benz ClubLounge.

3. The digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard does not need to be renewed. The validity ends automatically with the termination of the membership and the associated deletion of the member in the Mercedes-Benz ClubCloud (member administration).

ADVANTAGES FOR CLUB MEMBERS:

1. The digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard is completely free of charge for your club members.

2. The digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard can be accessed online at any time (also via smartphone and other digital devices).

3. The digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard has an individual QR code. With this, club members have free admis sion to the Mercedes-Benz Museum and no longer need a separate ticket.

WHAT DOES A MEMBER HAVE TO DO THEN TO GET THE NEW DIGITAL MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB CARD?

Nothing! We provide members created in the Mercedes-Benz ClubCloud with the new digital MercedesBenz ClubCard free of charge in their personal account in the password-protected Mercedes-Benz Clu bLounge.

Thus, every member created by your club in the ClubCloud database automatically receives a digital club card.

We are delighted to be able to make your members another exclusive offer with the digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Dear Mercedes-Benz Club Presidents, Dear ClubCard Managers,

We would like to introduce the new digital Mercedes-Benz ClubCard to you today.

FROM

NORTHERN REGION

National Concours September 2022

By Steffan Liebenberg

It’s Saturday morning, the 10th of September 2022. I arrive at number 92 Rivonia Road at 7:30 and the colossus that is MercedesBenz South Africa’s flagship dealership, is already a hive of activity. A line of sparkling-clean Mercs of all shapes and sizes eagerly await their turn to be appointed a parking bay in the immaculate basement workshop.

The event sparks a memory of the first Concours event I ever attended, many years ago at Mercedes-Benz Menlyn. My friend Marcell Mostert was instrumental in convincing me to attend that event. I took my dad along on

the day and we both thoroughly enjoyed the cars, the camaraderie, and the enthusiasm. I decided there and then that I had to join the club.

This year’s event was a bittersweet experience for many of us since it was the first time that the Club was able to hold a Concours since the devastating effects of Covid had passed. A lot has changed in the more than two years, and the loss of some dear friends such as Chris CarlisleKitz who, amongst others, was a major contributing force in past Concours events, is once again a reminder of the aftermath that we

are still recovering from.

Under the watchful eye of Sven Krassnokutski, a new judging panel took on the mammoth task of going through each car in great detail. This was my first experience as an authenticity judge and it was great to witness the high standard of our members’ cars first hand, and to speak with these enthusiasts that had spent hours and days preparing their cars; and many who drove great distances in order to participate.

The second day of the Concours kicked off with a new category: “Spectacle Spécial” where members got to share the

story of their cars. I had brought a car with great sentimental valuea 230SL family heirloom entrusted to me. My dad had passed away in July and I was grateful to be able to pay tribute to his legacy in this way. It was fascinating to hear the delightful history that came with other members’ cars. The stories of fastidious ownership and devotion bears testimony to the fact that we are all custodians of these great cars and that future generations

may one day appreciate the mechanical integrity and elegant design synonymous with the three pointed star, as a result of these efforts.

The culmination of this year’s event took place around midday with the commencement of the prize giving ceremony. This year, Louis Fourie’s stunning 220SE coupe walked away with the Prix d’Etat. The Prix d’Honneur was awarded to Roley Nöffke’s

immaculately restored 1928 “Stuttgart” and the Prix d’Elegance was awarded to Fanie du Preez’s gleaming W123 280E.

My experience of this event leaves me with a new take on why it is important to have such an event in our calendar and secondly, why one should participate. I have a friend who is a detailer by trade. He spends a great deal of time cleaning highend classic cars and over the years

has attended Concours events all over the country. He spent most of Saturday morning at our event and commented afterwards that it was the best presented and most professionally-run Concours that he had witnessed to date in South Africa. It is always good to hear an outsider’s opinion and this once again reinforces the strong foundation and high standards maintained by the Club.

Entering for Concours is

daunting and I know that many of our members aren’t that keen on the time and effort associated with the preparation for this event. The fortunate upside to this sort of effort is much more than a certificate or an award. This is an opportunity to rectify all the details that may irritate you about your pride and joy, plus it also highlights the things that you may not have been aware of. It is, in short, a collaborative effort to

assist you in making your classic car even better!

I’m grateful for the new friendships formed, for the fun and camaraderie of the Club members, for the opportunity to pay homage to those who have devoted so much of their energy in the past, and above all, to celebrate the bright future of our vibrant Club.

I hope to see you all at Concours 2023!

4

1 Prix d'Honneur Mercedes-Benz South Africa Carl Benz

2 Grand Prix d'Etat Hein Lorentz Gottlieb Daimler

Carl Benz Trophy Prix d'Honneur Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz South Africa

Gottlieb Daimler Trophy Grand Prix d'Etat Sponsored by Hein Lorentz

3 Prix d'Etat

Wilhelm Maybach Trophy Prix d'Etat – Pre-War Sponsored by Waldo Scribante

Ferdinand Porsche Trophy Prix d'Etat – Oldtimer Sponsored by Steve Rademeyer

1st Place Roley Noffke W111928260 "Stuttgart"

2nd Place Louis Fourie W1111963220SE Coupé 3rd Place

1st Place Louis Fourie W1111963220SE Coupé

2nd PlaceSteffan LiebenbergW1141971 250CE 3rd Place Hannes Viljoen W1081970 280S

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

4a

Louis Fourie W1111963220SE Coupé

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 170 / 220 Sponsored by Lizaan Kemp

1st Place Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 170 / 220

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 170 / 220 2nd Place Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 170 / 220

4b Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 300 Louis Coetzer <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 170 / 220 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 300 Sponsored by Louis Coetzer

1st Place Roley Noffke W1891958 300

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 300

4c Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Ponton Gary Dodds <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 300 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 300 2nd Place Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class 300

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Ponton Sponsored by Gary Dodds

1st Place Gary Dodds W1051958 219

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Ponton

4d Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Fintail Chris Carlisle-Kitz <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Fintail

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Fintail

4e Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class W108 / W109 Koos du Toit <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class W108 / W109

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Ponton 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Ponton 2nd Place Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Ponton

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Fintail Sponsored by Chris Carlisle-Kitz

1st Place Louis Fourie W1111963220SE Coupé

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Fintail 2nd PlaceVan Zyl van PletzenW1101963 190

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Fintail 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class W108 / W109 Sponsored by Koos du Toit

1st Place Hannes Viljoen W1081970 280S

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class W108 / W109 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class W108 / W109 3rd Place 4f

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class W108 / W109

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class /8 Sponsored by Leon Fourie 1st PlaceSteffan LiebenbergW1141971 250CE Concours

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class /8 2nd Place Niekie Nell W1141974 280E Concours

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Pagoda

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Pagoda

5 Prix d'Etat – Youngtimer Ettienne Geel Paul Bracq

5a Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W123 Tielman Roos Roux <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W123

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W123

5b Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W116

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W116

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W116

5c Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W201

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W201

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W201

5d Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W124

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W124

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W124

5e Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W126

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W126

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W126

Jan-Willem Wielsma <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Pagoda 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Oldtimer Class Pagoda 3rd Place

Paul Bracq Trophy Prix d'Etat – Youngtimer Sponsored by Ettienne Geel

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W123

Sponsored in memory of Tielman Roos Roux

1st Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W123 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W123 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W116 Sponsored by Jan-Willem Wielsma

Waldo Scribante <Not Named>

Johan Kemp <Not Named>

Johan Kemp <Not Named>

5f Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W140 <open> <Not Named>

1st Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W116 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W116 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W201 Sponsored by Waldo Scribante

Peter Graham CL2032007C230 Coupé

1st Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W201 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W201 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W124 Sponsored by Johan Kemp

1st Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W124 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W124 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W126 Sponsored by Johan Kemp

1st Place Miklos Hegyi W1261990 560SEL

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W126 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W126 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W140 1st Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W140

5g Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R/C107 Paul van Wyk <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W140 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W140 2nd Place Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class W140

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R/C107 Sponsored by Paul van Wyk

1st PlaceJohan van Heerden R1071979 450SL

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R/C107

5h Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R129 Pieter Booysen <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R129

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R129

5i Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class Open Warren Geyser <Not Named>

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class Open

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class Open

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R/C107 3rd Place Gary Bowes R1071982 280SL

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R/C107 2nd PlaceWarren Geyser R1071982 450SL Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R/C107

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R129 Sponsored by Pieter Booysen

1st PlaceRinus van der Ende R1291991 300SL

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R129 2nd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class R129 3rd Place

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class Open Sponsored by Warren Geyser

1st Place Peter Graham CL2032007C230 Coupé

Concours d'Etat Youngtimer Class Open Sponsored by Warren Geyser 2nd PlaceNeil Kandasamy W2032004C55 AMG

Concours d'Etat

POMC Cars in the Park

By: Ann-Lee Dos Santos

The planning was well underway for the annual Christmas in July event hosted by the Northern Region, when the announcement came that the Pretoria Old Motor Car Club was hosting the annual Cars in the Park at Zwarkops on

31 July. A big thanks to MercedesBenz AMG Centre for the use of their beautiful AMG Dynamic Driving Centre. It was the perfect day to host the annual Cars in the Cark event. Members came out in full force to enjoy the day.

Over 70 people came through the hospitality facility and we had 50 cars on display at our Club stand. Thanks to Andre Esterhuizen and Willem Terblanche for supplying the most delicious breakfast and lunch for the Club members.

CENTRAL REGION

Central Region kept warm during the winter months

By: Jaco Kachelhoffer

Following the success of the Club’s National Gathering in Mossel Bay during June 2022, our region had to go back to the cold weather of the Free State and Northern Cape!

There is no better way to combat the cold than with a glass of Old Brown Sherry (a.k.a Vrystaat Kombersie) in hand. So, we kickstarted our July event with a soup and sherry evening at our barn on Friday 22 July where we hosted, apart from our Bloemfontein members, our Upington members en route to Frankfort the next day. The biltong and chilli butternut soup went off quite well with the OBS and we set a good start to the rest of our weekend.

On Saturday morning our group left Bloemfontein to travel to Frankfort for the long-awaited visit to view Paul van Wyk’s collection of beauties. The little bit of tar around the potholes on

the Free State roads resulted in us merrily zig-zagging all over the place and for once it was not the result of too many OBS’s! Upon our arrival we were treated to a scrumptious lunch at The Linkview Guesthouse and then it was time to feast our eyes.

We knew beforehand that we were going to be in awe of what we were about to see – we just did not realise the extent that our awe would take. Paul really has an impressive collection of both older and newer models, not only Mercedes-Benzes with exceptionally low kilometre readings, but his love for all classics shows in his Borgwards, Peugeots etc. etc. Way too many to mention all of them.

Like a child with free reigns in a chocolate shop, you could just feast on the sight of rows upon rows of beautiful classics! You won’t find another collection like Paul’s very easily. We reluctantly left the collection to go to dinner at the guesthouse that evening. Breakfast the next morning was also at the Linkview Guesthouse (if ever you are in Frankfort, we can certainly recommend that you pay a visit to them as well). Paul and Thea really spoilt us over the course of the weekend.

We were in for another treat on the Sunday morning in that we paid a visit to our member, Koos Kruger and his wife Hannie, on his farm near the town of Villiers. Apart from the varied collection of beautiful classics (and motorbikes) awaiting us, milk tart and coffee were also served – true Free State hospitality. We were sad to leave

for our various destinations, but we were also happy to know that Paul and Koos have certainly placed Frankfort and Villiers on the must-see classic vehicles map!

Our August events were on a much smaller scale. On the 3rd of August 2022 a few of our region’s members attended another “Technical Evening” at Silverton Radiators, arranged by Charlie Simkin. This visit was once again very interesting and we learned that a car’s radiator is quite a complex component which needs regular service and maintenance, while the correct anti-freeze (and mixture thereof) is of utmost importance for the longevity of your car’s engine. On the 9th of August a few members of the Free State Veteran Car Club joined us for a braai at the Kachelhoffer barn.

In warmer September it was time for our Club’s flagship event, the National Concours. I was happy that I could convince three of our members to take part in this event and months of hard work was rewarded when all three of them did extremely well in their respective divisions. Niekie Nell was second in the Concours d’ Etat Stroke 8 with his 1974 280E W114; Van Zyl van Pletsen also placed second in the Concours d’Etat

Fintail with his 1963 Finny, while Fanie du Preez claimed the first spot in the Concours d’Elegance Youngtimer with his 1985 W123 280E. Central Region is proud of our members’ success in this event!

Towards the end of September, we were also looking forward to an event that was

postponed previously due to CoVid restrictions: a visit to our Northern Cape Vaalharts region. On Saturday 24 September the members travelling from Bloemfontein and Upington had to meet up with the local members at Warrenton, but due to our navigator Annalie, some of us went ahead to Christiana where everybody at last met up at the premises of Rascal Seed Research Laboratories. Our member and CEO/founder of Rascal Seeds, Dawie Ras, gave us a totally new insight on potatoes! Their minituber production is carried out in insect-proof, climate-controlled greenhouses under very stringent regulations and with high-tech production techniques. He also showed us their medicinal Cannabis greenhouse where the same high standards are maintained.

This was followed by a lunch at the Border Hotel in Jan Kempdorp, from where we were driven (very suitably) in a Mercedes-Benz Vito to the Vaalharts Veteran Club Museum so we could view their outstanding collection of classic tractors; kept in very good condition. One turn of the key is enough to start them. From

there we went to club member Kobus Du Plessis and wife Willa’s farm near Magogong to enjoy their collection of classic vehicles, tractors and other memorabilia from years gone by. A very festive dinner at the Border Hotel awaited us, where we were given a goody bag filled with pecan nuts, peanuts, wines and other famous treats from that region. Thank you to Bart Opperman and Johann Smit for sponsoring our goodies. After breakfast on Sunday, we visited the collection of a nonclub member, Jopie Fourie in Warrenton. Jopie also has a varied collection of classics with (among others) a very scarce 380SL R107 and a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II –both in mint condition. From there we travelled back to Kimberley where we enjoyed lunch in the company of some of our Kimberley

members.

Our sincere thanks to Bart, Johann and all the others involved in arranging a very enjoyable weekend for us! We were sad that so many of our Bloemfontein members missed out on this event. Our thanks also go to our very active Upington members committing to long hours of driving to attend our events during this quarter, and also to Paul and Thea van Wyk (Frankfort) who rarely miss a club event.

Our last event for the year will be our year-end function and Annual General Meeting at the end of November 2022. Our membership numbers are still picking up and we hope to continue this trend. All in all, our region has a very good quarter in the rear-view mirror.

EASTERN CAPE REGION

Intle Run

By Nikiforos Georgiou

The open road… what a joy that is with an ‘Old Mercedes’. And what’s better than one Mercedes? Two Mercedes’!

The Eastern Cape region had one of their outings in the month of October to Intle Botique Hotel just outside Port Elizabeth. This gave all participating members a chance to subject their old dames to a nice burn. We had with us a 450SLC, Pagoda, 190E, W124, CL500, CLK500 and three 108’s.

The open road was lovely with the perfect weather, giving us all that urge to push our cars a little harder

than we normally do. All the vehicles purred like magic, no issues of course as we were all in Mercedes Benzes!

The venue was beautiful. We had an awesome view of the green pastures and sea from the deck of the restaurant. In the distance we could even see giraffes on the peaks of the hills - a magical view. There’s something special about old car runs along the Garden Route… especially when it’s in a threepointed star.

Komga Agricultural Show

By Erald Hohls

It was Komga Agricultural Show time again recently and although this is a small 3-day Eastern Cape agricultural show, it was very well supported by many from East London and the surrounding areas.

There were cattle and sheep displays, as well as livestock sales, and many other activities that kept the local interest going. Among others this included a number of craft and excellent food stalls, live music, kids’ fun area and dealers of new vehicles, tractors and implements.

The Eastern Cape region of the Mercedes-Benz Club has supported this show many times over the years and this time it was really well attended.

A few of our Club members drove out to Komga, 55km from East London, to support the locals there by doing an arena drive in our classic cars. The Harley Davidson Club also came out with a few classic bikes.

All-in all it was a great (and warm) day out, enjoyed by everyone.

KWA-ZULU NATAL REGION

National Concours – September 2022

By Matt du Sart

The Germans can be very competitive. But South Africans even more so. Add in the spicy KwaZulu Natal gees and the race for victory is on, all wrapped up in the romantic French translation of competition; concours. Mes étoiles!

As the first National Concours held within the auspices of the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa since 2019, the anticipation of such a prestigious event was palpable. With four entries from the KwaZulu Natal region, two competitive and two for display, one cannot determine what was more exciting: the preparation or the eagerness for a roadtrip!

Well in advance of their debut on the parkway, the contestants were primped and preened, polished and dressed in finery. Final details were seen to in the parking garage at Sandown Motors just more than twelve hours before the lights went on and the judges armed themselves with clipboards, pens and keen eyes.

Walking into the service bay which played host to our members and their star-studded beauties on the day of Concours was like arriving backstage at a Victoria’s Secret photoshoot. Except there were no secrets to be held here! After many hours (and twenty thousand registered steps), the judges’ sheets were turned in and the scores tallied. Our region sashayed away with three awards: Warren Geyser’s golden 1982 R107 450SL placing second in the 107-Class Prix d’État and Peter Graham’s uniquely hued 2007 C203 C230 Coupe took top honours in the category Open Class Young-timers as well as the highest overall score for the same category.

Resounding congratulations to all winners and participants! We cannot wait for the next starstudded event…

Surfin’ KZN!

By Matt du Sart

Winter is… leaving! Is there any better way to mark such merri ment than with a sojourn to the beach? We on the balmy East Coast of South Africa think not… With temperatures beginning to climb into the upper-twen ties, members surfed their way through beachgoers along Dur ban’s refreshed and gleaming Golden Mile. Our destination, Surf Rider’s Café, a popular sun-kissed hangout a few metres from the water’s edge. As the seagull flies.

The KZN family caught up on news over cocktails, mocktails, coffees and venue-appropriate meals. And what visit to Durban’s beachfront is complete without an obligatory Ricksha Ride? Wherever there is a car enthusiast, an inter esting set of wheels will not be far away…

Cresting the summer waves, we cannot wait to Hang Ten! Fin gers in this case, not toes. Mercs up!

SOUTHERN CAPE REGION

Club lunch at the Fairy Knowe

By Koot du Toit

Die Peleton pragtige MercedesBenz voertuie het om 11.30 onder die leiding van Waldo en René Scribante vanaf die die Sasol vulstasie by die sirkel in George vertrek, en het om en by 12.50 by Fairy Knowe gearriveer. Nadat elkeen plek ingeneem het aan die keurige gedekte tafels en drankies bestel het, is almal welkom geheet. A special word of thanks for their presence was directed at Dennis and Marilyn Houseman on attending their first club function, as as well as Pieter and Wilna Lourens’s children, Charl and Elsie Bester and their children on visit from the U.K.

Nadat Wilna Lourens ‘n tafelgebed gedoen het, is die geurige disse voorgesit.

Gedurende die ete het Chris Kuhn almal teenwoordig vergas op ‘n praatjie oor die verskillende W modelle van Mercedes-Benz voertuie en wat dit aandui. Hy het ook statistieke bekendgemaak van die getalle van die verskillende modelle wat vervaardig en verkoop is. Dit is uiters interessante inligting wat die lede baie met dank aangehoor het. Baie dankie Chris en Renscke vir die koopbewyse by hul restaurant in Hartenbos, wat hulle goedgunstiglik beskikbaar gestel en toegeken het aan die wenners wat vrae kon beantwoord oor Mercedes-Benz voertuie.

Almal teenwoordig het blikkieskos saamgebring wat Maandagoggend deur twee

liefdadigheidsinstansies, nl. Emmaus en Badisa met dank ontvang is, asook R300.00 elk in kontant wat ‘n trekking opgelewer het en goedgunstiglik teruggeskenk is deur die lede wat die wenners in die trekking was. Baie dankie aan elkeen wat bygedra het om die nood van honger mense te verlig.

Baie dankie aan die bestuur en personeel van die Fairy Knowe Hotel wat ons ontvang en bedien het met goed voorbereide en keurrig bediende voedsel.

Laastens, ‘n groot dankie aan almal wat teenwoordig was en sodoende meegemaak het om die uitstappie onvergeetlik vir elkeen te maak.

Groete, tot ‘n volgende keer.

Suid-Kaap

By Koot du Toit

Lente Snoekbraai 2022

Kobus Harris het onlangs bevestigdat: dit was die eerste sosiale geleentheid wat gereel is na die ontstaan van die Klub, en dat hy van aanvang daarvan verantwoordelik is vir die reelinge! Hy kon nie met sekerheid bevestig of dit die afgelope naweek nommer 25 of nommer 26 op die kerfstok was nie.

Heartiest of Congratulations and thanks to Kobus, Naas, Chris, Renscke and Robert as well as Waldo for arranging, amongst other things, the very handy portable drums used for doing the braai, as well as everyone else

who contributed to make it such a great success.

Die venue, sowel as die weer, was met een woord “onverbeterlik”. Dit was so ‘n rustige, gemoedelike en gesellige samekoms en dit was heerlik om saam met soveel lede van die Suid Kaap Oumotorklub te kuier. Baie dankie aan Pierre Conradie vir die woorde van dank wat hy tydens die geleentheid namens die Oumotorklub se lede uitgespreek het.

Mag ons almal gespaar word om dit DV volgende jaar weer te doen. Met Beste Wense.

I

Hello everyone, let me introduce myself:

I am Mercedes, a 1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL and my owners are Waldo and René. I am part of a few vehicles of the “SCRIBS BENZeum”, actually I am the car that started the collection.

Enough of that, I want to tell you about our recent road trip called the Erfenis toer. I was so excited when I realised that I am the chosen one for this Erfenis toer, as it was a first for my owners… I felt very special when we arrived the morning all washed and polished up for the starting event at Half way Toyota, and oh yes for the media.

We

1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL - René Scribante

left Halfway Toyota and drove across the Outeniqua pass to Prince Albert. And yes it was my drive across the pass that got caught by the guy with the camera and I ended up on the SABC news that eve ning. Exciting stuff!

was delighted to meet up with old friends, Mercedes-Benz 280SE Coupé owned by Andre Fourie, a Mercedes-Benz 280 Roadster owned by Pieter and Wilma Lourens and a Mercedes-Benz 280E owned by Peet Botha from the

After a “Lekker” lunch at Prince

Hotel, me and my friends set of to

we would stay over in the beautiful Manor Hotel.

Even a little cat came to watch us and made friends with my owner René.

We departed to St Helena Bay the next morning with a pit stop at Tulbagh. We were parked under a beautiful lane of trees, we looked so very handsome!

St Helena Bay was a treat with a few of us venturing off to find proper local fish and chips at the harbour for our owners. The seagulls loved the meal out on our boots with the wind doing all kinds of tricks. Such a feast!

MBCSA Southern Cape region. Then there were new friends to be made like the Mercedes-Benz 180D Ponton owened by Richard and Margriet Second. Some friends were a bit weirder than others but al gorgeous like the little blue Morris Minor with a little trayler hooked on. It belongs to the chief in charge of the Erfenis toer, Pierre and Tilly Olivier

Albert

Matjiesfontein where

The following day we set off to Montagu for the last evening of our road trip with a stop over at Hoeka Toeka. What a place, old cars, tractors, oxwagens just to name a few!

The Montagu hotel was splendid with a themed 50/60’s party! Whoop whoop lots of fun was had.

The next morning we said our goodbuys to old friends and new… We did stop for a massive milkshake along the way!

I was a bit sad to say goodbye to all my friends, but also happy to return home to my brothers and sisters at home, even the 914 Porsche is not to bad…

I hear this happens every year and I hope I get picked again to be part of the Erfenis toer of 2023

1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL - René Scribante

1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL - René Scribante

1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL - René Scribante

1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL - René Scribante

Swartriet Tour

By Dirk van der Westhuizen

Due to the accommodation restriction, I could only provide lodging for 24 people, that was booked up many months in advance. We all gathered on a cloudy morning in Darling for breakfast, and from there through the West Coast National Park to view flowers, with a good range of classics and some modern classics. Unfortunately, when we got to the National Park, it was drizzling. The only flowers to see were those on the Park’s brochure ... That however did not put a damper on our high spirits

and our eagerness to kuier. After a lovely lunch, we only had 1 km to drive to arrive at Swartriet, which is a private resort on a farm, right next to the sea. We all got together in front of one house, caught up with months of news, and had the most delicious steaks, which you could cut with a MasterChef Steak knife that was provided in your goody bag. Before we knew it, it was way past midnight, and time to recharge.

Our second day’s outing was to visit the quaint little West Coast village of Aurora for breakfast,

and then off to Elandsbaai. We chatted and played frisby with the resident dog on the lawn in front of the Elandsbaai Hotel.

For lunch, the seafood platters were large enough to feed the crew of a small navy ship. The drive back to Swartriet was casual and quite a few of the Namaqua flowers could be seen. The second evening at Swartriet was a burger braai, which involved a lot more storytelling.

A special thanks to Waldo and René for joining us on the trip.

Club run to Under Oaks Pizzeria near Paarl

By Hanjo Stier

On Sunday 31 July, Western Cape Club members took advantage of the cold but sunny weather to congregate at Under Oaks Pizzeria near Paarl for a casual brunch. Some vehicles met up at our favourite meeting point, the Engen Winelands 1-Stop on Cape Town’s eastbound N1 highway, while others made their own way to the picturesque venue on the northern outskirts of this booming Boland town. Paarl is currently experiencing a strong influx of upcountry folks looking for holiday and permanent residences alike, thereby leading to increased activity on the classic and exotic car scenes. See also: our August club meeting at Supercar

Cellar

Storage in Paarl.

By mid-morning, about 15 Mercedes-Benzes were parked on the lawn in front of the restaurant which – despite one temporary disruption by a Toyota – made for the most amazing display of variety from the three-pointed star. The oldest vehicle was a beautiful ivory Ponton 220S flanked by a first-gen B-Class, clean pre-facelift W210, the Laenen’s lovely R107 500SL and Jasper Schutte’s R230 SL65 AMG. How’s that for a wonderful mix?

Other noteworthy vehicles

included another AMG R230 (the thunderous SL55), W123 280E, W116 350SE, CLS Shooting Brake, Jean Le Roux’s stunning 114 Coupé and a few other two-door cars like a white R129, red 300CE and Jimmy Visser’s R171 SLK55 AMG.

Western Cape chairman and organiser of this run, Zillen Venter, refused to divulge how many pizzas were consumed on the day but confirmed that a great time was had by all attendees around a crackling fire place.

August club meeting at SCS in Paarl

By Hanjo Stier

The Western Cape’s monthly Club meeting for August 2022 was kindly hosted at the brandnew premises of SCS near Paarl. This state-of-the-art luxury and performance vehicle centre is the brainchild of three avid supercar owners in the area who wanted to create a petrolicious haven in the Winelands.

Situated in Zandwyk Park, an upmarket industrial and commercial area behind Mercedes-Benz Paarl, a large warehouse contains the multiple

sections of SCS (Supercar Cellar Storage) since its official opening in August of this year.

Combining vehicle storage, maintenance and detailing with various automotive lifestyle aspects such as memorabilia, coffee bar or whiskey lounge with a view, racing and golf simulators, exclusive club membership and bespoke lockers, SCS also claims to be the largest luxury car storage and detailing facility in the southern hemisphere.

About 25 club members

happily occupied their fullyequipped conference room for our monthly meeting which included a short presentation by an SCS representative followed by a detailed tour of the many facilities on offer. Vehicular highlights included Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren, as well as a classic BMW and Ferrari Formula 1 car.

You can find more information on www.scs-storage.co.za

REVIEW

Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupé 4Matic+

By Hanjo Stier

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This saying was brutally hammered home by the car you’re looking at now: a black-on-black 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupé 4Matic Plus. Let me quickly tell you what my idea of Mercedes beauty is. A Pagoda SL. In pale blue with parchment leather seats. Or the timeless elegance of a W111 280SE Coupé, which took me many viewings to figure out that I most adore its pillar-less finesse in a single metallic colour. With a sunroof, air-con and Cognac Leather trim.

For this very reason, I signed up to the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa more than a decade ago and attend their outings or yearly gatherings as often as my whirlwind lifestyle permits it. This year’s annual do was scheduled for mid-June in Mossel Bay so I started prepping and polishing one of our family heirlooms for the trip.

Having been initially declined the use of a new Mercedes from the factory’s press fleet, I spent a good couple of days getting

Mutti’s old Benz ready; going so far as to buy new tyres at the last minute. However… no sooner had I returned from the friendly tyre shop, when my colleagues announced that we had suddenly received an AMG for a few days.

WhatsApp servers groaned under the load of our discussions which, once we’d established that a jet-black GLE63 Coupé eats just as much as a cruising W123 280E, lead to a last-minute change in my Merc Club transport. And just to show how much I disapprove of this car’s rather vulgar design, I made my wife drive it for the first two days.

Parking it between sleek W126’s and understated R129’s, I even thought of buying a proverbial paper bag for the amusement of my fellow club members. And while some of them looked the other way, I was really surprised to find an enthusiastic handful who were eager to approach, inspect and learn more about our temporary steed.

Here are some of the highlights: 4-litre AMG bi-turbo

petrol V8 engine, with mild hybrid assist, which can unleash up to 466e-kW or 850Nm through a supremely fast and smooth 9-speed automatic gearbox to an intelligent all-wheel drive system. That’s what the “4Matic Plus” bit stands for, by the way.

0-100km/h is claimed to take just 3.8 seconds and my single attempt (with GPS confirmation) resulted in 4.1 seconds. The quarter mile is dealt with in just 12.21 seconds at 116.73mph, putting this bulbous SUV into the category of “what just happened” if you ever line up next to one of these at the traffic lights. I mean, come on, it weighs 2,450kg.

The brakes are just as impressive with a single emergency stop taking just 2.96 seconds and 40.13 metres. Handling and steering, with multiple and customisable drive modes, defy the laws of what a soft-roader should be capable of, so you could safely assume that we had brought the fastest, most powerful and expensive car to this gig.

Except that you’d be wrong. With an SLS, twin-turbo V12’s and almost priceless drop-top Benzes in the mix, our black behemoth was none of those things. Nor was it the only specimen of its kind, as Stanmar Motors (one of the

event’s sponsors) had brought a few 63 AMG’s of their own. And there was a blacked-out X6M parked next to us at the hotel. Which lead me to another realisation. Never mind my own beliefs about its, umm, styling. With a price tag north of ZAR 3.2 million – excluding tasty optional extras – it turns out that these high-bum angry-faced brawlers enjoy a high degree of popularity. One elegant Afrikaans tannie at our gala dinner couldn’t stop raving about our beautiful car!

By this time I had finally gotten over my staid beliefs and swung myself behind the half-suede halfcarbon steering wheel. Into the high-contrast, vented and heated seat. Oh my word. Yes, the power and acceleration is mind-bending, especially for the weight, but this car glides and cruises beautifully; with half its cylinders deactivated, if need be.

This is supposed to get you close to the maker’s claimed average fuel use of 12.6L/100km but you will see double that if you have a soul. Filled with petrol. And you floor it a lot. For the record, we did record a highway average of 10.2L/100km, perfectly matching our assumption that it eats just as much as ye olde M110 at speed.

To add a few more (objective) negatives, the window line is rather pinched so you’re heavily reliant on all the available parking

aids in this vehicle. Media, gauge cluster and ventilation controls can be challenging to the uninitiated while the steering wheel is best operated with a delicate touch; for two reasons.

Firstly, this AMG’s directional response is fairly sharp for such a big machine, while the lane-, collision- and cruise-assistants can severely interfere with a quiet highway journey. We suggest deactivating most driving aids for our local conditions. Secondly, the steering wheel’s four main spokes are loaded – to the brim – with touch-sensitive buttons.

A personal problem I have, sitting at the Palmwag Lodge bar as I compose this text, is that these cars have enormous invisible (black) alloys shod with ultralow-profile high-speed tyres. This obviously aids any attempts at a Nürburgring Nordschleife time but is utterly useless for potholes, heavy corrugations, rocky roads or slegte plaaspaaie

If I had the choice – and I don’t because of financial and local model issues – I’d rather get an E450 All Terrain Estate. And stay away from Palmwag. But if you want a humungous status symbol with excellent lights, exceptional toys, great handling, superb comfort and hilarious performance, this 2022 MercedesAMG GLE63 S 4Matic+ is the car for you.

ANNIVERSARIES

Safety steering system

55 years ago – August 1967

Providing additional safety for the driver, all MercedesBenz passenger vehicles were fitted with the brand’s telescopic steering column from August 1967 onwards. In the event of a severe frontal impact, the steering column components would move or collapse into each other, thereby reducing the chances (or severity) of impact forces. Other passive safety measures of the steering system included an impact absorbing pad, favourable column angle and position of the steering gear mechanism.

Ralph de Palma wins Elgin Road Races

110 years ago – August 1912

Not to be confused with our own Elgin Valley in the Western Cape, Elgin in Illinois (USA) hosted various road races late in August 1912. First prize went to Ralph de Palma in his privately-entered 1908 Mercedes 140hp Grand Prix, followed by Erwin Bergdoll in a Benz 150hp. De Palma also set a new record with an average speed of 110km/h.

Mercedes V8 wins CART World Series (Indycar) engine classification

25 years ago – September 1997

Mercedes-Benz provided various Indycar teams (later CART World Series) with power plants during the latter half of the 1990’s. In 1997, their IC 108 D power plant won nine out of 17 races, and was crowned winner of the engine classification after the last race on 28 September of that year. The 2.65L methanol-fuelled DOHC V8 weighed around 125kg and produced up to 625kW (850hp) at around 14,000rpm.

First German motoring club

125 years ago – September 1897

Just 11 years after the invention of the motor car, the “Mitteleuropäischer Motorwagen-Verein” (Middle European Motorcar Club) was founded on 30 September 1897. Founder members of the first ever German car club included Carl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Rudolf Diesel.

30th anniversary of the 400E

30

years ago – October 1992

If you thought that a W124 500E / E500 was a rare beast on our shores, consider the slightly weaker, certainly more modest but even more elusive 400E. This 4.2L (M119) model with 205kW enjoyed great sales in the USA and Japan from mid-1991, while its European counterpart was only launched on 1 October 1992. The vehicle’s badge changed to E420 with the restructured nomenclatures of 1993, and a total of 22,802 units of the 400E/E420 were sold worldwide.

Much like its bigger 500 brother, the W124 400/420 engine was only available in a sedan body; never as a convertible or estate. The later W210 E420’s could be had as station wagons, while this smallest version of the M119 engine was replaced by the smallest M113 motor of the time: the E430, which had fewer valves, less consumption, but identical power and torque figures.

EV tests on the island of Rügen

30 years ago – October 1992

Mercedes-Benz commenced large-scale EV (electric vehicle) testing exactly 30 years ago on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen. This government-funded project involved ten Mercedes-Benz W201’s and a further ten MB 100 vans with a variety of electric drive trains. The fleet of EV’s tested energy systems, photovoltaic charging stations and batteries in everyday use until about 1996.

W140 is voted World Car 1992

30

years ago – October 1992

An international jury of automotive journalists considered a vehicle’s environmental compatibility, safety and comfort during their votes for the World Car 1992. On the eve of the Paris Motor Show from 8 to 18 October 1992, they crowned the new MercedesBenz W140 as their winner. The French motor show also played host to the new W140 300SD, the first diesel-powered S-Class in Europe. A total of 406,532 units of the W140 were sold until its series production ended in 1998.

Klaus Ludwig becomes 1992 DTM champion

30 years ago – October 1992

Mercedes-Benz collected their second constructor’s championship when German driver Klaus Ludwig won the driver’s championship in 1992 in an AMG 190E 2.516 Evolution II. His brand colleagues Kurt Thiim and Bernd Schneider finished the championship in second and third place.

MERCEDES-BENZ ANNIVERSARIES

World’s first metal airship was powered by a Daimler engine

125 years ago – November 1897

On 3 November 1897, an all-metal airship designed by Hungarian inventor David Schwarz set off on its maiden voyage in Berlin, equipped with an 8.8kW (12hp) Daimler engine. Mobility on land, on water and in the air. More than 100 years ago, the successful uses of Carl Benz’s and Gottlieb Daimler’s combustion engines also included aircraft.

Last 126 off the line was a 560 SEC

30 years ago – August 1992

Did you know? On the 28th of August 1992, a 560 SEC rolled off the production line at the Sindelfingen plant as the last vehicle in the S-Class 126 series. A total of 892,193 sedans and coupés were built in 13 production years!

W126 Fact Sheet

• Introduced in September 1979 at the IAA in Frankfurt, Germany

• The Coupé arrived two years later, also first exhibited at the IAA

• A mild update was introduced in September 1985. Guess where?

• Built from 1979 to 1991 in Sindelfingen (Germany), Malaysia or South Africa

• Total of 818036 units produced, 1465 of which were armored versions

• Officially available as a sedan (W126), LWB sedan (V126), LWB armored sedan (V126) or coupe (C126)

• Sedans came with 5-cylinder turbo-diesel or 6- and 8-cylinder petrol engines

• Coupes only had 8-cylinder petrol engines

• Sedans were available as a 4or 5-speed manual (6-cylinder petrols) or 4-speed automatic (V8’s and turbo-diesels)

• Coupes were only available as 4-speed automatics

• All 126’s were front-engined and rear-wheel drive only

• Their predecessors were the W116 and C107, while their successors were W140 and C140

W126

Production Numbers:

260 SE, 1985-1991: 20 836 280 S, 1979-1985: 42 996 280 SE, 1979-1985: 133 955 280 SEL, 1980-1985: 20 655 300 SD Turbodiesel, 1980-1985: 78 725 300 SDL Turbodiesel, ‘85-87: 13 830 300 SE, 1985-1991: 105 422 300 SEL, 1985-1991: 40 956 350 SD Turbodiesel, 1990-1991: 2 066 350 SDL Turbodiesel, ‘90-91: 2 925 380 SE, 1980-1985: 58 239 380 SE (Armored), 1981-1985: 86 380 SEL, 1980-1985: 27 014 380 SEL (Armored), 1981-1985: 88 420 SE, 1985-1991: 13 996 420 SE (Armored), 1985-1991: 229 420 SEL, 1985-1991: 74 017 420 SEL (Armored), 1985-1991: 63 500 SE, 1980-1991: 33 418 500 SE (Armored), 1983: 3 500 SE (Armored), 1987-1990: 7 500 SEL, 1980-1992): 72 693 500 SEL (Armored), 1981-1985: 376 500 SEL (Armored), 1985-1992: 262 500 SEL (Armored LWB), ‘83-85: 2 560 SE, 1988-1991: 1 252 560 SEL, 1985-1992: 75 071 560 SEL (ECE), 1985-1987: nsd* 560 SEL (Armored), 1986-1992: 349

*not seperately documented 380 SEC, 1981-1985: 11 267 420 SEC, 1985-1991: 3 680 500 SEC, 1981-1991: 30 184 560 SEC, 1985-1991: 28 929 560 SEC (ECE-Version), ‘85-87: nsd*

Rarest models:

500 SEL (Armored LWB), ‘83-85: 2 500 SE (Armored), 1983: 3 500 SE (Armored), 1987-1990: 7

Rarest (non-armored) models:

560 SE, 1988-1991: 1 252 350 SD Turbodiesel, 1990-1991: 2 066 350 SDL Turbodiesel, ‘90-91: 2 925

Most common models:

280 SE, 1979-1985: 133 955 300 SE, 1985-1991: 105 422 300 SD Turbodiesel, 1980-1985: 78 725

Shared on Facebook, from Sandown Motors:

“Behold, the WILL.I.AMG! Pictured here is an AMG GT Coupe known as “The Flip”, and stems from a collaboration between will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG.”

Ralekota Louis Chepape: Apart from the grill everything is dope

Frederick Kotze: Pray tell who might Will.i.am be when not at home sleeping

Jacques Pierre Le Roux: Must be the ugliest car I’ve seen in quite a while.

Niel Nathoo: Horrible

Shared on Facebook, from Southern Cape Old Car Club:

“Save the Date: Dates for next year’s George Old Car Show, with its focus firmly on Italian marques, have been confirmed for 11 and 12 February 2023.”

Leon Erasmus: Looking forward to it – the best show of the year!

Zaheera Ebrahim: Abdul Gani Carim Jack we definitely going

The Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa introduced a new segment to its National Concours. Today was our first Spectacle Spécial, and what a special day it has been!

Our members, who displayed and entered their cars, shared the very special stories of their cars and how they became the curators / owners of these cars. We had an incredible Concours weekend…

Hans-Georg Bosch: What a fantastic event it was. A big thank you to all organisers and sponors! My son Hans-Rudolf would have loved to be there. Thank you once again for a super MBCSA event!

Dawie Louw: What a fantastic event indeed! A big thank you to the sponsors, organisors and participants, and last but not the least, thanks for all these photographs.

Vishen Chetty: Passed by yesterday and just had to see these beautiful cars

Nerisa Chetty: Absolutely breathtaking !!!

Marius Erlank: Awesome

As part

post

of a multi-photo event

Pieter Ackerman: Mooi kar Louwrens Coetzer: Stunning motor!! 350 of 280? Tiaan Opperman: Louwrens Coetzer, 280S

As part of a multi-photo event post

Pieter Ackerman: Mooi groene

Tshepo Mashala: Very nice

On the previous Benz Lens post:

Christina Kannemeyer: Maybe not relevant to present post but couldn’t find another place to post. 8.9.2022 - A sad day indeed and end of an era. Farewell Elizabeth. Pic taken from “Sternes Stars und Majestâten” by Paul Simsa & Jürgen Lewandowski.

As part of a multi-photo event post

Richard Tudor-owen: Who owns this car? Looks very much like my old R129!

REGALIA

DIE THE

MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA

P.O. Box 999, George, 6530 | www.mercedesbenzclub.co.za

The only officially recognized Mercedes-Benz Club in Southern Africa Member of the SA Motor Club Association

Waldo Scribante (President)

C: 082 802 3280 | E: president@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Annalie Kachelhoffer (Vice President)

C: 084 205 5411 | E: vp@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Johan Kemp (Treasurer)

C: 083 457 1092 E: treasurer@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Anna-Lee Dos Santos (Chairperson: Northern Region)

C: 081 474 7460 E: northern@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

René Scribante (Interim Chairperson: Southern Cape)

C: 083 627 6757 E: scape@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Jaco Kachelhoffer (Chairman: Central Region)

C: 082 771 1731

E: central@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Marlize Heroldt (Membership Secretary)

C: 073 305 6214 | F: 086 684 0235

E: membership@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Hanjo Stier (Editor)

C: 082 646 4099

E: editor@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Regalia Officers

Jacky Lavin

C: 084 399 8973

E: regalia@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Leon Erasmus

C: 082 353 5933

E: regalia@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Jan-Willem Wielsma (National Secretary)

C: 082 461 5883

E: secretary@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Zillen Venter (Chairman: Western Cape)

C: 083 440 6814

E: wcape@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Fabian Cairns (Chairman: Eastern Cape)

C: 082 900 0359

E: ecape@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Avish Maharaj (Chairman: KZN)

C: 061 507 8803

E: kzn@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Marcell Mostert (Social Media Director)

C: 083 704 3223

E: socialmedia@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Sven Krassnokutski (National Concourse Director)

C: 082 685 8204

E: nationalconcourse@mercedesbenzclub.co.za

Club Approved Insurance Brokers

Elsabé van Zyl (MUA)

T: 086 196 7568 C: 082 807 9052

E: elsabe@execbrokers.co.za

Smythe Insurance Brokers CC

T: 031 701 0226

E: info@smythebros.com

Awards

Chris Calisle-Kitz