History and heritage go hand-in-hand with the Mercedes-Benz automobile as well as with the MBCA Educational Foundation (EF). In fact, you’ll soon be able to view historical documents related to the Mercedes-Benz automobile on the MBCA Educational Foundation’s website as well as at the Kemp Auto Museum located in St. Louis.

The EF is in the process of moving a collection of historical documents from temporary storage in Colorado Springs, CO, to the Kemp Museum in St. Louis. During the next few months, the documents will be cataloged and prepared for public display. You can learn more about EF by visiting their website here.

Do you have historical Mercedes-Benz materials you would like to donate to the collection? If so, please contact MBCA EF here.

In other news: Many of us love to drive. OK, that’s not news. But, did you know you can actually get an award for doing so?

MERCEDES-BENZ HIGH MILEAGE AWARD

The latest Mercedes-Benz 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, California. The Koschels bought the car new and drove it for 1,019,000 miles. But you don’t need to drive a million miles to get an award.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic High Mileage Award is presented to owners whose vehicles have logged 155,000 miles or more.

Drivers receive a traditional Star and Laurel Badge and handsome display certificate in a formal presentation folder. Awards are presented at five vehicle mileage milestones.

Award Milestones

• 155,000 miles (250,000 kilometers)
• 312,000 miles (500,000 kilometers )
• 466,000 miles (750,000 kilometers )
• 625,000 miles (1,000,000 kilometers)
• 1,000,000 miles (1,610,000 kilometers)

Download your award application here, complete it, and then take your vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer for odometer verification.

History and Background

Mercedes-Benz first introduced the High Mileage Award in the 1960s to recognize the many Mercedes-Benz vehicles that routinely travel hundreds of thousands of miles — some even eclipsing the million-mile mark.

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.

So, how many miles do you have on your Mercedes-Benz?

What MBCA Central Virginia section member has the most miles? Leave your model and mileage in the comment section below. And, maybe you’ll just get an award from the Central Virginia Section!

By: Greg Magnus
MBCA Central VA Section | Newsletter and Website Editor
MBCA Educational Foundation | President