- Mercedes-Benz presented 4 paired past-and-present cars at Hampton Court from 4-6 September.
- A 300 SL Gullwing appeared beside a long-wheelbase S-Class prototype featuring a Vista Blue cabin.
- The expanded Classic Center in Fellbach will cover 18,000sqm and employ nearly 70 specialists.
Past and present share the lawn
Mercedes-Benz paired landmark classics with specially configured current cars at the 2026 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court.
The brand was the event's Celebrated Manufacturer of the Year from 4-6 September. Its display linked 4 cars across 2 eras, beginning with a 300 SL Gullwing and a long-wheelbase S-Class prototype. The modern limousine was finished in grey with a Vista Blue interior.
Alongside it, a 300 Sc Roadster, 1 of only 53 built, was matched with the current Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series.
One pairing compared a 1950s grand tourer with a modern limousine; the other placed a hand-built roadster beside Mercedes-Maybach's latest open-top model.
Henry Poole brings tailoring trackside
Mercedes-Benz also renewed its collaboration with Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co, which ran a demonstration workshop at the event. The partnership connected the carmaker's highest customisation tier, MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure, with a tailoring house marking 220 years in business.
The workshop showed visitors how materials and colours are selected for an individual commission.
140 years leads to a larger workshop
A replica Benz Patent-Motorwagen marked 140 years since the automobile's beginnings, completing a display that stretched from the earliest motor car to modern bespoke production.
Placed among the current custom models at Hampton Court, the Patent-Motorwagen made that 140-year span visible in the display itself.
Mercedes-Benz is also investing in the physical home of that heritage. Its Classic Center in Fellbach is being expanded to 18,000sqm, bringing nearly 70 specialists under its roof.
The Hampton Court display placed the Patent-Motorwagen, the historic pairings and Mercedes-Benz's current customisation programme on the same lawn.
