PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4

The final chapter of our car journey ends with us in Stuttgart, a city that truly lives and breathes the automobile. Friends and fellow enthusiasts had been encouraging me to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum for years, and they were right. The place is enormous – if memory serves, it spans five spacious levels – and every corner is packed with history and craftsmanship.

What impressed me most was how Mercedes captures the spirit of the automobile from the moment you arrive. Even in the parking area, there’s a hint of what’s to come – a display of boxed scale models ready to greet visitors. It’s a small touch, but it immediately sets the tone.

As you enter, the first thing that catches your eye is the Mercedes-Benz souvenir shop. I mentioned in an earlier post that the Porsche shop was impressive, but this one easily takes the crown. For anyone interested in 1:18 scale models, the variety here is exceptional. Unfortunately, I was too caught up in the excitement to take photos, but trust me – it’s worth stopping by.

The visit begins with an elevator ride to the top floor, where you’re greeted, fittingly, by a horse – a nod to the brand’s early days of horsepower before engines took over. From there, the museum walks you through Mercedes-Benz’s history, from its early beginnings to the modern-day era of performance and luxury. One section that really stood out to me was what I call the “wall of history,” which focuses on their racing legacy through the decades.

This was the only museum on our trip where I couldn’t possibly photograph every car. There were simply too many. The layout makes great use of every inch of space, with hundreds of displays that tell the story of the brand – from accessories and wartime developments to a glass-encased Formula 1 engine. Seeing an F1 power unit up close is something special; it’s surprisingly compact, considering the performance it delivers.

One personal highlight was finally seeing the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL in person. It’s long been in my personal top ten favourite cars of all time, and standing in front of it only confirmed why. The proportions, the details – it’s even more beautiful than in photos. My favourite modern era of Mercedes, the 190 E, was also well represented, with several examples on display – including one that once belonged to Nicolas Cage, which was a fun surprise.  Did I mention, the recently purchased 1:18 Mercedes C111 Concept was there too!  Concepts galore!!

And that wrapped up our automotive adventure in Germany. I want to thank my wife for sharing this journey, the people of Germany for being so kind and welcoming, and my friend Karsten – the invitation to Canada still stands, my friend! The Mercedes-Benz Museum was the perfect way to end the trip – a fitting tribute to one of the greatest names in automotive history.