Celebration of motoring heritage
Dozens of Mercedes-Benz fans have travelled in style across New Zealand as part of the luxury marque’s “140 Years. 140 Places” journey.
After visiting Asia, the global journey came down under to celebrate the “heritage, innovation and passionate community that continue to define Mercedes-Benz in New Zealand”.
The tour is marking 140 years since Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile and three travelling new S-Class models have been given heritage-inspired names as part of the event.
New Zealand welcomed Gottlieb, a nod to Gottlieb Daimler, while Carl and Bertha toured Australia.
The New Zealand leg of the journey began with a launch at Flying Fish Studio in Auckland, where VIP guests, media and Friends of the Brand gathered to celebrate the origins of motoring in this country.
“The evening paid tribute to the arrival of New Zealand’s first motor vehicles in 1898, when Wellington politician William McLean imported two Benz vehicles – the Benz Petrolette and the Benz Lightning – aboard the SS Rotomahana,” says Mercedes-Benz New Zealand.
“Guests were immersed in a vibrant recreation of Wellington Harbour at the turn of the century, with signature cocktails inspired by the Petrolette and Lightning and a culinary experience showcasing exceptional New Zealand producers, native flavours and ingredients inspired by key destinations from the tour route.”
Veteran broadcaster Mike McRoberts was also on hand to introduce the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, revealed from within a period-inspired shipping container before its national journey began in mid-June.
From Auckland, the tour continued to Ardmore, where Mercedes-Benz owners and enthusiasts gathered at the Warbirds Association Hangar as classic, rare and contemporary models came together, with the display showcasing the evolution of the S-Class across almost every generation.
In a special moment, Lloyd Marx, an owner and guest, was invited to apply the official commemorative sticker featuring an image of his 1963 (W111) 220 SE to the new S-Class.
Continuing the tour’s tradition, each major New Zealand stop was marked with a bespoke location sticker placed on the S-Class, creating a visual record of the journey.
The convoy of vehicles travelled south via Taupo and Hawke’s Bay before visiting Paraparaumu’s Southward Car Museum, which is home to the oldest surviving motor vehicle in New Zealand – an 1895 Benz Velo imported by Christchurch businessman Nicholas Oates in 1900.
The South Island section of the tour took in places such as Kaikoura and Lake Tekapo before arriving at Ayrburn Estate in Arrowtown, where participants were met by a privately owned collection of Mercedes-Benz vehicles arriving in convoy from Dunedin.
The collection then continued to Highlands Motorsport Park, where the classic Mercedes-Benz models joined the new S-Class and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 on circuit.
“Together, the cars brought 140 years of Mercedes-Benz history to life on track, creating a powerful scene that united early classics with today’s luxury and performance flagships,” adds Mercedes-Benz NZ.
“It captured the spirit of the global tour: connecting generations of vehicles, owners, fans and collectors through a shared passion for the brand.”
Across both islands, the New Zealand leg took six days, covered about 3,800km, generated more than 10,000 photos and videos, and created countless memorable moments before the global journey continued to India.
