The 12th edition of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally (MBCCR) — India’s premier heritage motoring event — is all set to take place on November 15 and 16, 2025. Known for celebrating the timeless appeal of the three-pointed star, this year’s event promises an extraordinary lineup of vintage and modern classic Mercedes models, offering a glimpse into over a century of engineering brilliance and design excellence.
Organized in partnership with Mercedes-Benz India, the 2025 rally will feature a record 100 cars, displayed on the scenic lawns of the Taj Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai. For the first time, the static display will be open to the public on Saturday, November 15, while the rally will flag off on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., tracing a picturesque route through Mumbai’s coastline and turning around at Marine Drive via the new coastal road tunnel.A Celebration of Heritage and Innovation
Each year, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally honors the brand’s rich legacy through a curated collection of vehicles — from pre-war masterpieces to modern icons. The 2025 edition will spotlight two major themes: the evolution of the iconic SL roadster lineup and Mercedes’ pioneering innovations that continue to define modern automotive luxury.
This year’s collection features everything from early 20th-century touring sedans to legendary race-inspired machines, ultra-rare limousines, and collector-owned showpieces that tell the story of Mercedes-Benz’s century-long journey.
The SL Lineage: A Gallery of Icons
Few lineups in automotive history embody timeless elegance like the Mercedes-Benz SL series, and this year’s rally celebrates it in grand style.
Among the 20 SLs on display, the standout is a sky-blue 190 SL once owned by Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. With its maroon leather upholstery, flowing design, and royal provenance, it remains one of India’s most photographed collector cars. Today, it’s part of Yohan Poonawalla’s collection, and his wife Michelle will drive it in full period-correct attire during the parade.
Also from the Poonawalla garage is the SLS AMG Gullwing, restored to factory perfection. With its iconic upward-opening doors and muscular stance, it represents Mercedes’ return to supercar form in the 21st century.
Enthusiasts can also look forward to a fleet of R129 500SLs, showcasing Bruno Sacco’s clean, wedge-shaped design, and pristine R107 500SL and 560SLs from Gautam Singhania’s collection. Completing the lineage are Pagoda-top W113s and the R230, the first SL officially sold in India — together tracing the SL’s evolution from the 1950s to the present day.
Engineering Marvels: From the 300Sc to the Mighty 600 Grosser
The Mercedes-Benz 300Sc (W188), the world’s first four-seater car with fuel injection, will take center stage this year. Once owned by the ruler of Sikkim, later acquired by Pranlal Bhogilal, and meticulously restored by his family, it represents the pinnacle of post-war innovation.
Equally captivating is the 600 Grosser, often described as the most complex Mercedes ever built. Favored by world leaders and industrial tycoons, its hydro-pneumatic suspension and air-assisted controls define a level of craftsmanship rarely seen even today.
Stretched Luxury: The W126 “1000 SEL” Limos
The rally’s luxury section will showcase two stretched W126 S-Class limousines, famously known as the 1000 SEL. Both are custom-modified 1980s masterpieces — one formerly owned by Vijay Mallya, and the other by spiritual leader Osho. With bespoke interiors, period entertainment systems, and extended wheelbases, they epitomize the grandeur of 1980s opulence.
Racing Tributes: Homage to Mercedes Legends
The Tribute Class returns with two outstanding replicas celebrating Mercedes-Benz’s racing spirit.
The first, inspired by the “Red Pig” W108 S-Class, recreates the AMG race car that shocked the world by finishing second at the 1971 Spa 24 Hours. Powered by the 6.9-litre V8 from the 600 Grosser, it remains a symbol of brute force and engineering audacity.
Also featured is Pratapsinh Gaekwad’s W123 280 CE Coupe, tuned by Carlsson in tribute to Mercedes’ 1980 Monte Carlo Rally victory — a reminder of the marque’s surprising rally pedigree.
Utility Icons and Forgotten Legends
Off-road enthusiasts will admire the W461 G-Wagen, a military-spec legend with triple locking differentials and Dakar-winning heritage. Nearby, the W140 S-Class showcases Mercedes’ peak 1990s engineering — a fortress on wheels that introduced features like CanBus electrical systems and double-glazed windows.
A true pre-war gem, the 1929 Nurburg 460, developed under Ferdinand Porsche, will also be on display. It was Mercedes’ first series-produced eight-cylinder model and once famously completed 20,000 km on the Nürburgring in just 13 days during endurance testing.
Other rarities include a Mercedes 230, one of the brand’s last pre-war luxury sedans, and India’s only V8-powered W124, a modern classic revered for its balance of luxury and mechanical purity.
A Living Museum on Wheels
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally 2025 is not just a display of exquisite automobiles — it’s a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and community. With over a hundred vehicles lovingly maintained and restored by India’s leading collectors, MBCCR continues to be a rolling museum that connects generations of automotive passion.
As the cars roar to life along Mumbai’s coastline this weekend, they’ll carry with them a legacy that stretches from pre-war innovation to modern luxury — reminding everyone why the three-pointed star remains an enduring symbol of excellence.
check out:Top Cars to Watch Out for at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally 2025
