. Mercedes-Benz Re-Launches High-Mileage Award and
Introduces 'Birth Certificate' For All Models
MONTVALE, N.J. - The
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, the first of its kind to be established by
an auto manufacturer in the U.S., has re-launched the brand's popular High
Mileage Award to recognize Mercedes owners' brand loyalty and their cars'
durability. Mercedes-Benz cars have been known to routinely travel hundred
of thousands of miles, with more than a few eclipsing the one-million-mile
mark.
The High Mileage Award is
available free to Mercedes owners who have traveled at least 155,000 miles
(250,000 kms), and nearly 3,000 owners have downloaded the award
application since it became available from the http://www.mbusa.com/classic
web site on March 1. After completing the application, the owner must take
the car to a Mercedes-Benz authorized dealer for odometer verification.
Mercedes-Benz first
introduced the High Mileage Award in the 1960's, and owners proudly
attached the Star and Laurel radiator grill badges that signified the
milestone they had achieved. For the award re-launch, the badge has been
redesigned and recognizes cars that achieve the 250,000, 500,000, 750,000,
1,000,000-kilometer and one-million-mile marks. In addition to a badge for
the car's grill, the owner also receives a presentation folio with a High
Mileage Award certificate.
The current Mercedes-Benz
High Mileage champ is Gregorios Sachinidis, a Greek taxi driver who holds
the known record of more than 2.8 million miles in his 1976 Mercedes-Benz
240D. The latest Mercedes to be recognized for surpassing the
one-million-mile mark is a 1970 280SE acquired for the Mercedes-Benz
Museum Collection from its original owners, George and Luzstella Koschel
of Orange County, Calif. The Koschels had bought the car new and drove it
for 1,019,000 miles.
"Mercedes-Benz is
pleased to honor the owners and their cars that have achieved high
mileage," said Christian Treiber, General Manager, Aftersales
Marketing. "The High Mileage Award demonstrates customers' brand
loyalty and pride of ownership, as well as Mercedes-Benz engineering. The
award badge is a powerful visible reminder that Mercedes cars are built
unlike any other."
"Birth
Certificate" Available for Mercedes-Benz Cars, New and Old
Also new from the
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Mercedes owners can now purchase the Classic
Certificate, the document that verifies a car's build date and original
factory specifications. Available for new or vintage Mercedes models for
$100, this "birth certificate" comes professionally bound in a
black case, and makes an excellent pride-of-ownership display that is
suitable for framing.
The DaimlerChrysler Archives
make it possible to establish the original specifications of almost every
vehicle built under the Mercedes and Mercedes- Benz brands. Some factory
records date back to 1890, and the scope of archived data ranges from
internal order number to bodywork and engine codes, to the place of
delivery. Ordering the Classic Certificate records the owner's name in the
Mercedes-Benz Corporate Archives, thus integrating the owner with the
car's history.
