The Mercedes Story

 

by Al Marankas

 

My 1958 Mercedes Benz 220S was purchased new

in Connecticut by Margaret Rudkin, founder and

manager of the Pepperidge Farm Company. Not

pleased, she returned to the Cadillac/Mercedes Benz

dealership a month later and exchanged it for a new

Cadillac.

 

A few days later, Dick Robertson and his wife went

to the same dealer to buy a new car for their family.

Mrs. Robertson did not like the '58 Cadillac, so the

salesman told them about the Mercedes. After a test

drive they bought the car.

 

Dick was an executive at the Philip Morris Company

in New York City. Although he regularly traded in his

car for a new one, he kept the 1958 MB 220S for over

50 years. In addition to the Mercedes, he also acquired

a small collection of antique cars. In the 1970s, Dick’s company transferred him to Staunton, Va. to manage the American Safety Razor Company. His cars came with him.

 

After my relocation to Staunton, I opened an antique automobile restoration facility in 1990 called The Motorcar Company. Dick Robertson came to my shop and I began to maintain his antique car collection. We got along very well and our friendship grew over the years.

 

One of the cars that I maintained for Dick was his 1958 MB 220S. It was an easy project because he kept it in perfect condition. As time passed, I noticed that he drove it less often. I offered to buy the car because he insisted on the annual maintenance and then hardly drove it. He told me that he was not interested in selling it.

 

Every year after the annual maintenance, I reminded him that I would be happy to take the Mercedes off his hands. He would smile and remind me that it was not for sale.

 

One Tuesday in January 2011 he stopped by and asked me to lunch. We chatted about a number of things including upcoming old car events. On the following Thursday I received a call informing me that he had passed away. Shortly after the funeral, his attorney called to tell me that Dick had left his prized 1958 Mercedes Benz 220S to me. It seems that I will continue taking care of Dick’s Mercedes for many years to come.