The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the epitome of luxury motoring. Predecessor vehicles were also used in motorsport. Mercedes-Benz Classic is bringing two models to St. Moritz: A 300 SE racing touring car (W 112) from 1963 and the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG racing touring car (W 109) from 1971. The predecessors of the S-Class meet the current models of this unique family of Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles in St. Moritz.
The motorsport version of the 300 SE “Fintail” Saloon bears the number 102 of the Belgian team Robert Crévits/Gustave “Taf” Gosselin, the overall winners of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on 25 and 26 July 1964. With this vehicle, Mercedes-Benz Classic is commemorating the 100-year history of the race event which began in 1924.
The AMG high-performance saloon is modelled on the racing touring car known as the “Rote Sau” (Red Sow), in which Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz achieved second place overall and class victory in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 1971. The success catapulted AMG into the public eye. Both vehicles can be seen in the concours exhibition on Friday (23 February 2024) and on the circuit on Saturday (24 February 2024).
Mercedes-Benz 300 Cabriolet D and 300 SL Roadster
Mercedes-Benz Classic is also bringing an exclusive Mercedes-Benz 300 Cabriolet D (W 189, built in 1960) and a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (W 198, built in 1958) to St. Moritz. The cabriolet version of this prestigious vehicle can be experienced on both days as an exhibition vehicle in front of the event pavilion.
The 300 SL Roadster will be presented at the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz. The iconic super sports car has been restored to factory standards by the experts at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center and is available for purchase from the Mercedes-Benz Classic vehicle business unit.
The ice of St. Moritz as a spectacular stage
The story of “The I.C.E. St. Moritz” begins in the mid-1980s. Back then, British Bentley fans drove their classic cars round the horse racecourse, which is set up every year on the frozen and snow-covered Lake St. Moritz. The 50-centimetre-thick ice proved to be a spectacular stage for historic vehicles. In 2019, the idea of a successful test run with sports cars was taken up, and the automotive ice revue has been taking place with a full line-up since 2022.
This year, the vehicles in the “International Concours of Elegance” are competing in the categories “Barchettas on the Lake”, “Open Wheels”, “Concept Cars & One-Offs”, “Icons on Wheels” and “Racing Legends”. The presentation of the exhibition vehicles and the evaluation by the jurors will take place on Friday (23 February 2024) from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. The races on the frozen circuit will start on Saturday (24 February 2024) at 9.15 a.m. All participating cars complete two 20-minute stints. The class awards ceremony will take place on the lake from 2.30 p.m. The programme ends at 5 p.m.
