Another dreaded flat tire. But when I opened the trunk of my new(er) S-Class, I realized that all my tools and jack were in the trunk of my 300SDL – in storage. After jumping through some hoops, I walked into the garage that houses the 300SDL, which I hadn’t seen in eight months. It looked great: an original, rust-free car I have owned for about 20 years and painstakingly maintained in original condition.
I walked around it for a bit, making sure that after its long storage, everything was intact and no creatures had decided to use the car as a winter residence. I briefly fired it up and it seemed ready to go; the car didn’t appear to be holding a grudge for my not coming by to see it in so many months. I reluctantly put the cover back on and resolved that this would be the year to get the SDL Silver Star certified.
It’s always a pleasure to attend Mercedes-Benz Club of America national concours events and see spectacular examples on the field. These cars are often in pristine condition and worthy of the admiration of tens or hundreds of thousands of spectators. But few of our members have cars of that quality and prominence. Instead, our cars are more mainstream and utilitarian. But that doesn’t mean that we haven’t lovingly cared for them and are proud of their excellent condition and loyal service.
Several years ago, a new certification class was created by the MBCA to recognize owners who drive original cars and keep them in good working order. Owners who are careful caretakers of Mercedes-Benz vehicles that are used regularly may apply for the Silver Star Preservation Class award, which recognizes cars that are at least 25 years old, largely unrestored and still in good running order. The automobile is evaluated both on its originality, and on the functionality of key safety features.
Many owners are proud of the extent to which they have kept their Mercedes-Benz correct, original and fully functional – and rightly so. After all, a car is only original once, and these owners are true enthusiasts. We’ll be certifying cars for the Silver Star Preservation award all over the country this summer, so if you are the owner of an original Mercedes-Benz, get it out to a show and be part of the Silver Star Preservation Class club!
A much more frequent event that occurs continuously around the country is Cars & Coffee. This low-key event gathers enthusiast owners for a morning to showcase and talk cars. Many MBCA sections sponsor local cars-and-coffee events throughout the year, as well as at national events, such as Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. If you are proud of your car, you should make it a point to connect with your fellow members and have many memorable mornings of fun and fast cars.
Finally, many sections put on Show & Shine or concours events during the summer. Sections that are serious about following proper judging and MBCA protocol are invited to host a concours-judging session prior to the actual show. This informative presentation by National Concours Chairman Peter Lesler offers important insight into the nuances of the proper restoration, maintenance and presentation of the cars we all love. Every time I attend one of Peter’s classes, I take notes on everything new that I learn, based on the conversation and the audience’s questions and answers. If you get the opportunity to attend a concours-judging presentation and a formal judged-concours event, I highly recommend it. You will receive great advice on how to make your car even better.
About 12 years ago, I remember showing that 300SDL at a Gemütlichkeit; after scrubbing, I used a toothbrush and Q-tips to clean the engine, radiator and other components of dirt and wear. I swore I would never show that car again. As I gazed at it in the garage, my former resolve dissipated: I will return to the show field with my beloved SDL. And after using about $1,000 of car-cleaning supplies and exerting some elbow grease, I’ll be back in business. I look forward to seeing you on the show field this summer.