Miami-based collector car specialist CURATED is expanding beyond the preservation and sale of historically significant automobiles with the acquisition of Touring, a builder of bespoke vehicles based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Formerly known as Touring Design, Touring approaches the G-Class as a made-to-order all-terrain vehicle rather than simply a luxury SUV. Each commission is individually specified by its owner, including drivetrain, interior and exterior finish, with the intention that the completed vehicle will actually be used for travel and exploration.
That philosophy appears to be what attracted CURATED. Best known for sourcing and selling significant collector cars — particularly important European performance cars from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s — the company has increasingly expanded into rallies, events and driving experiences for its clients.
According to CURATED, those experiences have revealed demand for something different from the highly original and often low-mileage collector cars it typically handles: a vehicle its clients can drive hard, travel long distances in and take virtually anywhere.
“Touring is a natural fit for CURATED,” said co-founder John Temerian. “Our philosophy is about celebrating automotive passion in all its forms, whether that’s a preserved low-mileage original or a reimagined modern classic.”
Touring’s proposition also extends beyond building the vehicle. The company can manage the logistics required to use a commissioned G-Class internationally, including shipping, route planning and support at the destination. In effect, the vehicle and the travel infrastructure surrounding it can be handled as part of the same service.
“Every vehicle we build is commissioned by someone who intends to use it, and we handle what it takes to get them there,” said Touring founder Ryan Webb.
Webb will remain with the company and continue to lead Touring following the acquisition. The brand will also retain its focus on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class platform while gaining access to CURATED’s existing collector clientele and calendar of rallies and events.
The combination makes particular sense given the trajectory of the collector market. Restomods and comprehensively reengineered classics have become an increasingly established part of the high-end automotive landscape, offering an alternative for collectors who appreciate older design and character but want a vehicle suited to contemporary use.
Touring adds an all-terrain interpretation of that idea to CURATED’s portfolio. Rather than another low-mileage automobile intended primarily for a collection, its G-Class builds are commissioned around the expectation that they’ll accumulate miles — potentially on the other side of the world.
CURATED clients can now commission Touring builds directly through the company. Completed vehicles will also appear at future CURATED events, private client experiences and selected automotive exhibitions.
The acquisition is effective immediately.
