Round half-hour from the birthplace of Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart is a specialist that’s been working on the marque since earlier than the flip of the millennia.

Again within the late ’90s, a passionate, graduate electrical engineer by the title of Frank Rickert was working at AMG’s Affalterbach plant when he had an thought. Frank noticed a chance to take in depth AMG and Mercedes-Benz data he realized on the job, and use it to flip the present merchandise he was engaged on up a notch.

At this level, Frank knew the whole lot there was to find out about retrofitting modern handsfree telephones (and bear in mind, this was new tech again then) into older Mercedes-Benz fashions. He needed to do extra to the automobiles than simply the devices although, so he made the soar and began his personal firm.

In 1997, Frank created Mechatronik. A German play on the phrases ‘mechanics’ and ‘electronics,’ Mechatronik would develop over the years to return, changing into an trade chief in distinctive, custom-order Mercedes-Benzes, outfitted with not simply the most recent expertise obtainable, but in addition trendy powerplants to match the trendy expectations of the three-pointed stars on their bonnets.

Displaying me round their amenities and telling me the Mechatronik story is my tour information, Kevin.

Kevin has been a part of the enterprise since 2017, and is nicely versed within the historical past and fervour that goes into the corporate’s product. That itself is sort of spectacular, because the attain of Mechatronik’s work and talent is so huge that it stretches additional than any storage and workshop I’ve seen earlier than.

Right now, Mechatronik focuses on two main working areas (three should you depend Cartique, the Mechatronik supercar dealership, which we will have a look at one other time.)

The primary space is restoration and upkeep. With over 25 years of expertise engaged on Mercedes-Benzes, there actually isn’t a problem or downside that fazes the Mechatronik staff right here in Stuttgart. Throughout my tour I noticed all method of buyer automobiles being maintained in and across the storage.

These automobiles had been flawless. Mechatronik’s upkeep division isn’t some form of fundamental mechanics shed with a couple of C-Class diesel taxis up on ramps getting new wheel bearings. No, the shoppers who convey their automobiles listed here are worldwide. These folks have uncommon, low-mileage examples of Mercedes-Benz’s biggest hits, and Mechatronik is the specialist they belief to take care of them.

With nice data comes a stacked CV to help their work. Kevin proudly instructed me that Mechatronik is the one specialist formally recognised by Mercedes-Benz that may legitimately service and preserve the CLK GTR.

Go to the Mechatronik facility at any given time and likelihood is they’ll have one CLK GTR being labored on. Once I visited, the staff had two in. One, the silver highway automotive you possibly can see within the photographs, and the second, a full GT1-spec automotive in bits, getting recommissioned again collectively for a brand new lease of life.

Subsequent to that? Oh, only a CLK DTM sporting the ever iconic Vodafone livery… with the 4.0L V8 that powered the automotive to win the 2003 DTM championship out on the facet for upkeep. Seeing these automobiles in bits actually provides to the magic of engineering that went into creating them. Nothing was compromised in an effort to pursue racing victory.

My spotlight? In all probability the 190 E DTM automotive that Keke Rosberg drove within the 1992 championship a decade after his F1 championship win.

But it surely’s not simply the mid ’00s and late ’90s that function within the Mechatronik’s garages. This go to passed off a pair days after Mechatronik’s annual open home weekend, and so they nonetheless had a few of their most attention-grabbing tasks out on show for me to {photograph}. Their fashions of alternative are the W113 SL Pagoda and the W111 Coupe.

Now, if Mechatronik are certified for the job of taking care of these automobiles, one can start to picture the care and a focus that goes into the second half of the enterprise. Alongside the upkeep, Mechatronik additionally construct their very own Mercedes-Benz fashions from the bottom up as custom-order automobiles.

Charmingly known as the M-SL or the M-Coupe (M standing for Mechatronik), these automobiles obtain the Mechatronik therapy each in restoration and in upgrades. “The primary automotive we did was the Pagoda. Then, we used the two.3 V6 that got here in numerous ’90s Mercedes on the time,” Kevin started to inform me.

“Right now, our automobiles include a alternative of two V8s – both a 4.3 or 5.0, each of which got here new in Mercedes automobiles in 1997, such because the S500.”

Sourcing the automotive itself is exclusive to every buyer. Mechantronik can search them out, however typically the automotive is already within the proprietor’s possession. Kevin explains: “A few of our prospects convey their very own Pagodas, that are household heirlooms. Maybe the automotive was owned by the client’s father.”

“Sticking with our heritage, we retrofit numerous digital items onto the automobiles. ABS and ASR get built-in in, in addition to creature comforts similar to electrical home windows or heated seats,” defined Kevin. These are issues we take with no consideration at this time, however do not forget that we’re speaking about Nineteen Sixties automobiles right here.

With that taken care of, the automotive is then given the Mechatronik therapy. I make this sound straight ahead, however it is a two to three-year-long course of. It includes deep-diving into each single side of the automotive, from a restored, virtually new powertrain, to an immaculately repainted physique and ideal stitching in a completely {custom} inside.

When you didn’t know higher, you wouldn’t have the ability to inform that these choices weren’t obtainable on the unique base automobiles. “The automobiles aren’t made to be race automobiles. We attempt to hold the texture of the outdated automotive with issues just like the outdated steering field and interval appropriate visuals.” 

“With that mentioned although they’re nonetheless fairly sporty. For instance, we’ve an awesome relationship with KW and use their suspension parts on the automobiles. The purpose for us is for the M-SL and M-Coupe to be the right, usable traditional each day driver, and we take dynamics into consideration right here. We make them completely excellent.”

Kevin’s confidence is backed by the fruits of Mechatronik’s labour. The magic concerned with the M-SL and M-Coupe is their usability and reliability which comes from the newer, upgraded energy crops. “A few of these automobiles go to prospects everywhere in the world the place upkeep of an outdated, authentic Pagoda is difficult. The M-SL although may be taken care of in locations similar to South Africa or Australia which aren’t the simpler locations to personal outdated automobiles. Take a Mechatronik’s Pagoda to a Benz supplier although, and also you’ll have extra luck.” After-sale servicing and restore is one thing I didn’t even think about earlier than speaking to Kevin.

Even in a spot like London although, the place traditional automotive possession is simpler than ever, I nonetheless discovered myself strolling away from my go to to Mechatronik HQ lusting over an M-SL. It’s a part of the Germanic perfection and allure that comes hand in hand with the usability of the automobiles.

Add within the iconic seems of the Pagoda and you’ve got your self exactly what Mechatoniks got down to create – an ideal, usable traditional each day driver.

Michał Fidowicz
Instagram: candyshowroom