Golf Clap to Mercedes-Benz, Celebrating and Supporting Modern Classics

Here’s the dirty little secret about the car business. Though they’re well loved by aging car enthusiasts finally ready to spend some of that disposable income, newly minted vintage cars (30-years old in this case) can tend to be a paint for car manufacturers. Many of these cars have been garaged or retired, yet a smaller owner base remains a small yet highly outspoken group. Even still, this group holds a lot of influence with friends and family, meaning they help sell the new cars where the actual money is made. Classic parts divisions are often on minimal budgets if they exist at all. Still, some companies get the value, underlining the timelessness and inherent value of their product, and one of those is Mercedes-Benz.

We caught the below press release from the Mercedes-Benz global PR distribution, highlighting the latest cars to get support from their classics department. You’ll notice some regular players from our Market Finds series, with Mercedes’ own MANUFAKTUR division active in that time period, as well as Designo and Avantgard paint and design packages regulars in our European Market Finds mix for their unique and colorful options.

Bravo Mercedes. This isn’t a part of the business most easily associated with profits, but it remains core to support of owners and enthusiasts who care about your brand, which pays dividends in authenticity and passion that are hard to quantify yet critically necessary for a long-lived and/or premium brand.

BEGIN PRESS RELEASE – One Star, Four Eyes and Thousands of Parts: Mercedes-Benz Classic for the H Number Plate

[source: Mercedes-Benz]

Premiere of model series 210 in 1995: First E-Class with “four-eye face”
The Sprinter shapes an entire vehicle category
Further models and model variants from 1995 are ready for the classic car certificate
Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts keep classics on the road

Is your favourite car with the star actually already due for the H number plate? Every year, owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles which have weathered the years marvel at which of the brand’s models and model series find themselves on this threshold to becoming classics. In 2025, for the first time, these include the E-Class of model series 210, the first generation of the Sprinter and models of the SL of model series 129 and the E-Class Coupé of model series 124.

One prerequisite for the coveted H number plate is a classic car certificate in accordance with Section 23 of the German Road Traffic Licencing Code (StVZO). Vehicles can qualify which are 30 years or older. This certificate attests to the good original condition of a classic vehicle. With or without the H number plate: with its services, Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH plays considerable role in keeping classics as well as younger vehicles from throughout the brand’s history in optimum condition. Particular attention is paid to components which are relevant to driving and safety. Mercedes-Benz Classic offers an extremely comprehensive supply of spare parts worldwide with around 160,000 part items. Many are ready for pick-up within 24 hours from just under 3,000 authorised dealers in 170 countries.

January 1995: Sprinter becomes new synonym for vans

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter premieres on 23 January 1995. On this day, 500 of the agile vans leave the Düsseldorf plant bound for German Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The “Van of the Year 1995” is so successful that it soon lends its name to an entire vehicle category – known colloquially as the “Sprinter Class”. The van is available in various wheelbases with different body variants. The offer initially comprises three models with petrol, diesel and turbodiesel engines. The ABS anti-lock braking system, ABD automatic brake differential and – for the first time in a van – four disk brakes are standard features.

June 1995: E-Class of model series 210 with “four-eye face”

Mercedes-Benz presents the second E-Class generation in June 1995. Model series 210 sets an unmistakable visual accent with its “four-eye face”. This designation comes from the four round headlamps at the front. The CLASSIC, ELEGANCE and AVANTGARDE feature lines on offer are groundbreaking. The new E-Class initially starts with four diesel engines with four, five and six cylinders, as well as five petrol engines with four and six cylinders, and the E 420 with eight cylinders. In September 1995, the E 50 AMG follows as a top-of-the-line model; its eight-cylinder engine has an output of 255 kW/347 hp.

March and September 1995: Model series 129 with facelift and special model “Mille Miglia”

The updated SL of model series 129 premieres in September 1995. It is the first facelift of this generation of the Mercedes-Benz sports car. In addition to changes regarding details of the design, the SL is subject to technical innovations. These include a five-gear automatic transmission and revised engines in the SL 500 and SL 600. The Electronic Stability Program ESP^® is available upon request for the two top models of model series. Headlamps with xenon gas discharge bulbs and a hardtop with a glass roof are now available as special features. In 1995, Mercedes-Benz presents the SL special model “Special Edition” of the W 129 with Mille Miglia style elements, of which 630 vehicles are produced. The “Mille Miglia” model is even more exclusive. Created as a support vehicle of the famous regularity drive for classic automobiles, only ten units are produced on the basis of the Special Edition.

October 1995: Mid-size van Vito

Vito is the name of the new light van in the mid-size segment from Mercedes-Benz. Model series 638 is presented in Madrid in October 1995. The commercial vehicle ranked below the Sprinter is available in Germany from March 1996 on. The offer comprises three feature versions and four engines.

Model variants and facelift in 1995

In the course of 1995, new models complement the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range. From January 1995, the E 200 Coupé of the 124 model series, previously reserved for export to Italy, Greece and Portugal, is also available in Germany. The C-Class of model series 202 is revised in September 1995 and is provided with an extended range of engines.

With genuine parts, the classic remains on the road – Authentic and stable in terms of value

Whether for the second generation of the E-Class, the SL of model series 129, the first Sprinter or other classics with the star: Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts have a comprehensive range of spare and wearing parts available for classic automobiles of the brand. The service stands for the highest quality and originality down to the last detail. Thus, Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH makes a significant contribution to maintaining the authentic condition of the brand’s classics in the long term.

A selection of parts for the vehicles presented here:

For the E-Class of model series 210, the radiator grille (part number A 210 880 00 83, EUR 755.67), left headlamp (part number A 210 820 03 61 64, EUR 594.79), right headlamp (part number A 210 820 04 61, EUR 594.79) and tool bag, empty (part number A 314 585 00 01, EUR 36.84) are available. The range of parts available for the E 50 AMG includes the left front catalytic converter (part number HWA 210 490 03 19, EUR 1,485.95), left front brake disk (part number HWA 210 421 01 12, EUR 481.62) and right front brake disk (part number HWA 210 421 02 12, EUR 481.62).
The spare parts portfolio for the Sprinter comprises, for example, the grille for the bonnet (part number A 901 830 02 18, EUR 18.09), the right headlamp (part number A 901 820 06 61, EUR 328.15) and left headlamp (part number A 901 820 05 61, EUR 328.15) as well as the right rear lens (part number A 000 826 19 56, EUR 55.12) and left rear lens (part number A 000 826 18 56, EUR 55.12).
For the facelifted SL of the 129 model series from September 1995 onwards, among other parts, the radiator (part number A 129 500 01 03, EUR 797.82), the front right mud wing (part number A 129 880 04 18, EUR 957.95), the front left mud wing (part number A 129 880 03 18, EUR 957.95) and the windscreen (part number A 129 670 09 01, EUR 1,003.57) are available.
For the E 200 Coupé of the 124 model series, for example, the eight-hole rim 6.5 x 15 (part number B 664 700 85, EUR 240.00), the front axle spring (A 124 321 19 04, EUR 167.22) and the Mercedes star (part number A 210 880 01 86, EUR 39.71) are available.
For the facelifted C-Class of the 202 model series, in addition to many other parts, the gear lever of the mechanical five-gear transmission (part number A 202 267 01 11 9C 05, EUR 220.39), the steering knuckle on the right (part number A 202 330 01 20, EUR 338.45) and the steering knuckle on the left (part number A 202 330 00 20, EUR 338.45) are available.

All prices specified are recommended retail prices for Germany and include 19 per cent value added tax. The Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts specified and other Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts can be found at: teilesuche.mercedes-benz-classic.com