Mercedes-Benz - Stuttgart, Germany

Day 2 of our stay in Stuttgart and we headed over to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. A factory tour is also available but we were unable to attend due to it clashing with the Porsche factory tour the day before.

Next to the museum stands a large Mercedes-Benz dealership.

This museum is definitely the most comprehensive we visited, as it is a journey through the companies 100+ year history and highlights the significance of Daimler and Benz's achievements in motorising a carriage. It isn't just a display of motor vehicles but also tells the story of the company during key events in history.

We picked up our audio guide units and took the elevator to the top floor.

Like the Porsche Museum, this museum is an impressive piece of architecture. In particular, I found the elevator very space age and something from a science fiction movie.

Starting with the company's roots, we were introduced to the Daimler Motorised Carriage - the first car built by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach.

Next to it was the Benz Patent Motor Car, built by Carl Benz.

As we walked further, we spiralled down towards the ground the floor. Each level has vehicles of significance from each era up till the present day.

Here is a view of the dealership from the museum.

Cars that we see as classic cars today were considered race cars in their day.

Mercedes-Benz has a rich history in racing and here is a poster from the 1930's featuring the what looks like a W25 race car - the beginning of the Silver Arrow name.

In the years leading up to World War II, the Nazi party used racing as a means of promoting itself and associated race victories as a symbol of German might. Here is a trophy won by Mercedes-Benz driver Rudolf Caracciola at the 1939 German Grand Prix on the Nurburgring. Look closely and you will see the Nazi crest along with the name Adolf Hitler.

A selection of Silver arrows.

As we progressed towards the modern era, we were treated to an iconic car.

The 300SL with its gull wing doors - the father of the SLS AMG.

Here is a selection of notable Mercedes racing cars (and trucks).

There's the DTM C-Class.

The SLS AMG GT3...

Beautiful Group C prototypes like the Sauber C9...

...and the Sauber C11.

And just like the beautifully wide 911 GT1, there was the CLK GTR.

Finally, we end in the world of Formula 1.

Next time you see a set of RPF1's, remember that this is where they were used.

There are just too many photos to post, click here if you would like to see more.

Next stop, somewhere quite special to me.

Porsche - Stuttgart, Germany

The second stop on our German tour of car sites was in Zuffenhausen at the Porsche museum and factory.

The factory is the building on the right in the picture below, and a dealership is on the left. This factory at this site is Porsche's first factory and the original building is still standing within its grounds. 911's and Boxsters are currently built here and the assembly line winds its way through three stories of the factory building. The bridge in the center of the picture below connects the factory with the paint shop and car bodies actually move from the paint shop through the bridge to the factory.



We went on a tour through the factory and it was by far one of the best factory tours. We observed the car bodies moving between floors, got up close to the assembly areas and even had the opportunity to look at a couple of 918's that were ready for delivery. Once again, no cameras were permitted within the factory.

The museum is an architectural wonder in itself, with its angled design providing for a split level floor layout within for the car displays.

Outside the museum there were some customer cars and a 919 Hybrid on display.

The new 991 GT3 RS also made an appearance.

Once inside the museum, we were treated to several levels of notable cars in the history of Porsche.

I have too many photos to show in one post, but here are some cars and other things that I really enjoyed seeing.

356 America Roadster

1996 - Hollow spoke technology

908 body - fibreglass reinforced plastic - 130 kg

911 2.0

917 and 908

911 Carrera RSR 3.0

Who thinks of the movie Bad Boys when they see a 964 Turbo?

One of my favourite GT cars - 911 GT1 98.

997 GT3 RSR

Sally Carrera

This special edition 997 Turbo S "Edition 918 Spyder" with acid green highlights was only offered to buyers of the 918 Spyder and is limited to 918 units.

997 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder

918 Spyder

911 GT3 R Hybrid

Carrera GT

The evolution of the Beetle, I mean 911.

If you would like to see more photos, click here.

Next stop - Mercedes-Benz.