The New Mercedes-Benz Classic Center

MBCC Expands!
Fabulous New Facility

I’m overdue reporting Mercedes-Benz Classic Center’s move to the 1.1m square foot facility in Long Beach formerly occupied by McDonnel Douglas/Boeing. The grand opening was in October 2022 and featured guided tours of the facility by director Mike Kunz and assistant Nate Lander, and a large car show in the parking area outside the building held the following day. This I couldn’t miss and it coincided with buying back my favorite 6.9 that had been with a Hollywood writer living in Studio City for 6 years or so.

I booked a flight to Burbank, Ubered to Studio City, jumped into the gorgeous full European model 1976 6.9 (black with moss green velour!) and motored down to Long Beach. The new building towered over the enormous parking area and I couldn’t wait to see what lied within. Touring the the facility was fascinating and after looking at the projects in the general maintenance area we were taken to the restoration areas to observe various projects that were underway. Cavernous and spotless are two words that aptly describe the experience!

It was an opportunity to meet clients and old friends while wandering a sea of unique Mercedes-Benz’.

The new Classic Center has room to spare now. This is the general maintenance area and we see a diverse group of cars being attended to. In the foreground is a much used Gullwing with a luxurious modern interior.

One Roof – 5,000 Cars

The Classic Center outgrew its Irvine, CA facility essentially months after it opened and it was no secret that a new location was being sought for many years. However, the move to the fabled 3860 N Lakewood Blvd address achieved a number of goals beyond giving the Classic Center some breathing room. With the ability to store over 5,000(!) vehicles inside, all Western US regional offices carrying out new vehicle preparation have been consolidated into one facility.

For many decades this was handled regionally and owners of MBs from the ’80s and ’90s might remember the small square blue decal in the lower left corner of their new Mercedes’ windshield with the letters VPC: Vehicle Preparation Center. The one in my area was in South San Francisco.

Every new Mercedes-Benz unloaded at the Port of Long Beach now goes directly to N. Lakewood Ave, approximately 14 miles from the port. All final detailing, touch ups and any accessory installs are carried out at the new facility. Long Beach is one of approximately 5 such facilities in the US.

MB Classic’s Nate Lander explains the workings of the trim shop.

Walking Among Projects

We were escorted to upholstery and trim area where Nate Lander explained the painstaking process the Classic Center follows to insure accuracy of materials and construction. A highly original 1938 230 cabriolet B was being attended to. The hum of a Consew sewing machine told those assembled that old world techniques were being followed. Then it was off to the sheet metal fabrication area where an obviously distressed 300SL Gullwing was being essentially rebodied, such was the rust/damage that the car suffered.

The fabrication area housed a Rudge wheeled Gullwing quite likely being brought back from the dead. Note the extensive sheet metal replacement in progress. I would have loved to see this car in as arrived condition.

Mercedes History on Display

The car show the next day was staged in the massive parking lot in front of the Classic Center and featured a wonderfully diverse group of cars ranging from Randy Carlson’s gloriously weathered 1940 320 Sport Cabriolet with unusual coachwork by Rometsch to Arbor Kamberi’s gorgeous green SLS with clever green carbon fiber elements. It was an opportunity to meet clients and old friends while wandering a sea of unique Mercedes-Benz’.

This is just a small sampling of the hundreds of classic MBs on display in front of the enormous Classic Center building. It was a fabulous day for all.

On to the Petersen Museum

After savoring the cars on display in front of the Classic Center, I decided I would drive to the Petersen Automotive Museum in downtown Los Angeles to view the Andy Warhol’s CARS art exhibit  before heading back to the SF Bay area. This was an extraordinary exhibit that not only featured a number of the 35 prints 35 prints commissioned by Mercedes in 1987, but also most of the cars featured in the prints.

Viewing the brilliant prints while walking amongst a 1969 C111, 1954 W196 streamliner, W125 Grand Prix car, 1886 Patent Motorwagen and a Gullwing was an especially rich mixed media experience. What a way to end a memorable road trip.

The Warhol CARs exhibit at the Petersen Museum offered a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to see not only a group of the more meaningful prints Warhol made before dying in 1987, but also most the cars he depicted in the pieces. This was automotive mixed media art at its very best.

text/photography mercedesheritage.com