MONTVALE, N.J., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- 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
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.
About Mercedes-Benz Classic Center
Currently operating from the Mercedes-Benz USA corporate headquarters in Montvale, N.J., the Classic Center provides spare parts information for vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles to callers to its toll-free number
1-866-MB CLASSIC (1-866-622-5277). Scheduled to open this summer, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA in Irvine, Calif. will be the perfect place for Mercedes- Benz owners, collectors and enthusiasts to connect with the legendary brand.About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, N.J., is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. In 2004, MBUSA sold 221,610 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving ten consecutive years of sales growth. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at