Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 140 Years of Innovation with Classic and New Cars at 1000 Miglia
Mercedes-Benz will showcase four 300 SL models and the new S-Class at the 1000 Miglia from June 9-13, 2026, celebrating 140 years of automotive innovation.
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What Happened
Mercedes-Benz Classic is participating in the 1000 Miglia from June 9 to 13, 2026, with four Mercedes-Benz 300 SL models (W 194 and W 198) and a new S-Class (model series 223). Seven customer teams are also taking part under the Mercedes-Benz Heritage works team. The event highlights 140 years of innovation, from the world's first automobile in 1886 to today's intelligent electric vehicles.
“The Mille Miglia is the ideal stage to bring our 'Heritage Creates Future' philosophy to life. For 140 years, Mercedes-Benz has been setting technical standards with innovation, shaping the future of mobility in every era. This includes our great successes at Mille Miglia. This lineage continues with unwavering consistency: The current S-Class epitomises the progress that comes from our unique her”
Mercedes-Benz finishes second and fourth with the 300 SL (W 194) in its first Mille Miglia race.
Mercedes-Benz withdraws from motorsport at the height of success to focus on passenger car development.
Erwin Bauer and Eugen Grupp win their class in a Mercedes-Benz 220 'Ponton' (W 180), achieving 25th overall.
Mercedes-Benz returns to 1000 Miglia with four 300 SL models and the new S-Class, celebrating 140 years of innovation.
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The production version of the iconic sports car was built from 1954 to 1957.
Why this matters
The event underscores how Mercedes-Benz leverages its racing heritage and technological milestones to reinforce its brand narrative and product launches, such as the new S-Class.
Terms in This Story
- Mille Miglia
- An iconic Italian open-road endurance race held from 1927 to 1957, revived as a regularity event for classic cars.
- 300 SL
- A legendary Mercedes-Benz sports car first produced in 1952 as a racing car and later in a production version with distinctive gullwing doors.
- Gullwing
- A type of car door that hinges at the roof, opening upward; famously used on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
- Ponton
- A styling term for Mercedes-Benz cars from the 1950s featuring a pontoon-shaped body.
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