- 1902 Mercedes Simplex will drive from Seattle to Pebble Beach.
- The car is considered the oldest vehicle still on the road bearing the name Mercedes.
- The drive is part of the annual Motoring Classic.
PEBBLE BEACH, California — This part of the world is a haven for classic and veteran cars in August, but it's still noteworthy that a 108-year-old Mercedes will be taking part in a nine-day, 1,500-mile Pebble Beach Motoring Classic starting next week. The 1902 Mercedes Simplex is billed as the oldest car still on the road today bearing the name Mercedes.
The 28-horsepower open car will be among some two dozen cars making the road trip from Seattle along the Columbia River Gorge and down the Pacific Ocean coastline to Pebble Beach. There it will be admired as part of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Motoring Classic starts on August 2.
Arturo and Deborah Keller, whose Keller Collection owns the Maybach-bodied Simplex, will be driving along with restorer John Bentley. Bentley, who supervised the car's restoration, calls it "extremely exciting to drive."
Inside Line says: We'll bet it is. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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cz_75 says:
09:51 PM, 07/28/2010
I wonder if this thing would go over 50mph? Probably as well if it can't as 2 wheel mechanical drums are only slightly better than Fred Flintstone's braking abilities. I would hate to be driving it down into a river gorge like the Columbia.
felonious says:
01:32 PM, 07/28/2010
That's insane.