MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA will open a Classic Center -- the first such enterprise to be established by an automotive manufacturer in the United States -- in Irvine, CA in summer 2005.

Architectural plans to renovate the 27,626 square foot stand-alone building into a state-of-the-art facility for classic vehicle services were activated as soon as the lease at 9 Whatney (easily accessed from Freeway I-5) was signed in early November. Building alterations and installations of facility and workshop equipment are expected to take six months.

Through its close partnership with the original Mercedes-Benz Classic Center established eleven years ago in Fellbach, Germany, the new Classic Center in Irvine will provide benchmark resources in restoration expertise and archival materials dating to the origins of the automobile.
The Classic Center will provide Mercedes-Benz classic owners and enthusiasts everything from books to vehicle restorations, said Classic Center Manager Mike Kunz. "We are creating the perfect place for owners, collectors and enthusiasts to get in touch with the Mercedes brand. No other carmaker is doing this for its American customers."

Classic Center activities will include buying and selling classic automobiles and performing appraisal and repair services. In addition, the Irvine site will house a boutique featuring exclusive Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection accessories, automobilia and literature and will display a collection of vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Currently, operating out of Mercedes-Benz USA corporate headquarters in Montvale, NJ, the Classic Center provides spare parts information and technical assistance for vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles to callers to its toll-free number - 1-866-MB CLASSIC (622-5277) -- as well as expediting sales of Classic Collection accessories.

I wonder what they are going to call "Vintage". I think its time they moved to 107 body over to Vintage status, on this forum too. Some of the other body styles that spanned the 70's and 80's as well.

Dear Sir,
You are obviously not aware of the DC Classic Parts Pricing Policy.
They take the retail pricelist and note all prices that are relevant to the *classics*,eg any MB older than 25 years old. The *classic price adjuster* computer programme just adds one more zero behind ALL the prices that are moved to the *classic center parts department*, so if the list price was $25.00, the Classic Center Price is $250.00
In one easy move, now only the likes of Jay Leno(sorry, Jay) can restore a 50s or 60s Mercedes
I made a few calls to Fellbach, Germany in 2000 when I was sourcing some parts for the 170DS, all I can say is that the prices would have made the parts worth MORE than it's weight in GOLD and have resigned myself to supporting the vanguard suppliers like Niemoller, that I have used since the 1980s
At least there is, for the time being, an alternative to dealing with the *Classic Center*. I have heard from Germany that there is an active movement among ALL the German manufacturers to *trademark* or *copyright* the parts for their respective autos that will effectively put the independants out of business. BMW tried very hard to do this in the 1990s I think, but failed.
Have a good week

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Nachi11744