THE UNFAMILIAR SOUND WHISPERED IN THE STILL SINGAPOREAN NIGHT. We heard the soft chugging, like a steam locomotive from a great distance. It grew louder rapidly until we saw the source. As if time travelers from the 19th century had suddenly materialized, a bearded man and an elegant lady were riding on a large motorized tricycle, heading towards us at the Fullerton Hotel south entrance. The lady was driving, maneuvering the vehicle with her left hand on a lever and her right controlling a steering rod. She deftly wove through the parked classic cars and stopped at the end of the driveway. As the vehicle passed us with a rich aroma of leather and wood, we recognized both the vehicle and the driver.
The car was a replica of the first automobile, the Benz Patent Motorwagen. The lady at its helm was Jutta Benz, great-granddaughter of Karl Benz, the inventor of the automobile and Bertha Benz, the first woman driver. Ms. Benz traveled to Singapore to launch the Mercedes-Benz & Me campaign and to reveal some of the history of her family.
The following day, as astonishing a sight in 2005 as it must have been in 1886, Ms. Benz drove the Patent Car across the Cavenagh Bridge in front of the Fullerton, bringing the vehicle to a halt on a red carpet prepared for the occasion. Afterwards, she unveiled the collection of classic Mercedes assembled at the hotel’s courtyard. God Himself must own a Benz or two, as He gave the entire day a respite from the incessant showers.
Two SL roadsters were brought from the Philippines to join in the celebration, a white 1966 230 SL Pagoda and a silver 1956 190 SL. Their owners were on hand as Ms. Benz cheerfully signed her name on the cars’ metal dashboards, a permanent testimony to their presence at the event. The centerpiece of the exhibit was a stunning 1936 500 K Special Roadster, one of only 354 produced, and worth four million US dollars. Ms. Benz played passenger this time, riding the 500 K with its owner around the financial district.
The cars were worthy to be housed in a museum, and yet they were more than just display pieces. Each of them represented something special to their owner, far more than just the pride of having a beautiful car. The white Pagoda was the culmination of more than thirty years of collecting model cars, and a wonderful introduction to owning the real toy. The silver 190 SL was the fruit of a long struggle to restore a barnyard discovery back to its full glory.
There are cars that you drive to work and the supermarket, and there are cars that have become more than that: a faithful companion that is a part of your life. The cars mentioned in the advertisement were diverse, but they stories they told were all highly emotional. The Kennedys’ 2003 E-Class, which gave up its life to protect theirs during a collision with a drunk driver. Herr Wostendieck’s 600 Pullman limousine, which ferried 116 heads of state during his tenure as chauffeur for the German government. George and Luzstella Koschel’s 1970 280 SE, in which they have driven more than a million miles so far. Mercedes figured that many of its customers have developed an attachment to their cars, particularly given their dependability and longevity.
As for the family that started the tradition, we got to know more about Ms. Benz during an interview conducted by Cito Beltran. The first car may have been designed and constructed by a man, Karl Benz, but it was his wife, Bertha, who propelled the company forward during its difficult inception. She thought that the Motorwagen needed public exposure to prove its worthiness. So she embarked on a journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim without telling Karl. News of the drive soon spread and this generated enthusiastic support for the new automobile.
Jutta Benz is the last direct descendant of Karl and Bertha to have the name Benz; alas, she has no children to carry on the family name. Ms. Benz is an approachable woman, displaying warmth and genuine humor. She lives simply, driving her dependable 1984 W124 300 E to the school where she teaches.
Ms. Benz remained genuinely gracious despite the wilting heat and the many events scheduled that day. She is Mercedes-Benz personified: charming and elegant, someone you would want to call a friend over a long period of time. If the classic cars and Ms. Benz are an indication of what the brand can accomplish, then there will be many more Mercedes-Benz stories in the decades ahead.
By Jason Ang | Photos By Jason Ang
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
