Retrofit: Hemmels, restoring their prestige to vintage Mercedes-Benz SLs

The most famous Mercedes-Benz is certainly an SL-Class. Whether we're talking about the 300, its "gullwing doors" and its timeless face - it's one of the queens of Instagram - the little 190 that pleased Lollobrigida as much as Hitchcock or the 280, the The best-selling “Pagode”, designed by the French master Paul Bracq, the initials of “Sport Leicht” are among the most famous acronyms in automotive history. To bring these legendary machines into the 21st century, a Welsh garage, based in Cardiff, spends thousands of hours dismantling them, then reassembling them with new parts, for demanding customers: Hemmels.

Founded in 2016 in the capital of Wales, this garage employs 40 craftsmen divided into seven workshops specializing in the engine, bodywork, paint, upholstery... They follow the house principle of Neugeboren Process, reborn in VF. Because Hemmels not only repairs, polishes and cleans old Mercedes SLs, he gives them a complete facelift.

First, the customer chooses his model. Then the color of the livery, the seats, the rims and the options. Then, Hemmels takes care of finding the model in question. It is completely disassembled, the parts are ordered directly from Mercedes, and after 4000 hours of work spread over 52 weeks, the car is as it would have been bought in 1963 in a Mercedes-Benz dealership. This prodigy has a price: $215,000 minimum. Much more than the majority of antique restorers, but without compromising on the quality of the services and the hours of labour.

Mercedes SL retrofitting, a novelty at Hemmels

At the rate of 40 restorations a year, Hemmels has made a name for itself, and is already positioned as one of the leaders in this flourishing market of ripolining of old Mercedes. The German manufacturer even entrusts it with the maintenance of the vehicles exhibited at the Mercedes-Benz World museum in Brooklands.

At the head of the garage, there are business men and women who are passionate about automobiles. Among them, Iain Wood, Director of Operations, was responsible for internationalizing the brand. It succeeded. Today, 40% of restorations are carried out for customers outside the UK, most of them in the USA, Australia and China.

Above all, Wood and his collaborators are preparing for the future. Since 2018, they have been working on the in-house development of an electric motorization in order to embark on retrofitting. At the beginning of February, they announced the production of the Mercedes-Benz Electric Pagoda Classic Car, a 280 SL "Pagode" (initially produced between 1968 and 1971) 100% electric, capable of covering 320 kilometers on a single charge and offering a 0 to 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds. Top speed ? 200 km/h.

The 12 models of the first series are already sold out! But it is possible to pre-order a car from the second series, the production of which will begin in June, against a check for $215,000.

4 questions to Iain Wood, Head of Operations at Hemmels:

The Good Life: You charge higher prices than many competing auto restorers. How do you justify these above-average prices? Iain Wood: Our customers demand the best, and that comes at a price. There are many companies that start a restoration with an expenditure target not to be exceeded and this often means making compromises, not redoing a seat, partially repainting, not putting the original parts... Our prices are standards and set in advance to avoid having to make these "savings" that do not match our promises or the requirements of our customers.

The Good Life: Why did you choose to work on Mercedes SLs? Iain Wood: For two obvious reasons. They are magnificent, full of character and have left an indelible mark on the history of the automobile. Second, they benefit from fantastic engineering. There is a reason for their longevity: the high quality of their construction combined with a robust design. Our goal is to allow them to leave for 50 more years! Additionally, we have built a strong network of contacts, in the US for left-hand drive and in the UK for right-hand drive, which makes it easier for us to find SLs.

How to cook Bagel Bites in the Air Fryer #recipe https://t.co/uBLjmrEl0m https://t.co/2CwSTMH4EH

— Tammileetips Mon May 24 19:22:06 +0000 2021

TGL: What relationship do you have with Mercedes? I.W. : We have forged very strong links and, because we are certainly their biggest UK customer for old Mercedes parts, we are privileged to have direct access to their online inventory. Also, some of our cars are exhibited at the Mercedes-Benz World museum in Brooklands, of which we are the appointed restorer.

TGL: In addition to the arrival of retrofitting in your catalog with the 280 SL “Pagode”, what are Hemmels’ future areas of development? I.W. : The objective is not only to increase production, but also to highlight an experience, a lifestyle specific to Hemmels customers. This involves the organization of events, walks in Europe, days dedicated to pleasure, with tastings and visits, which appeal to our customers who are more like art collectors than simple consumers.

Also read:

C40 Recharge, Volvo's 100% electric flagship

New C-Class: Mercedes offers a luxurious facelift to its best-seller

Land Rover Defender V8, 525 horsepower under the hood, anachronistic and fantastic

Cupra boosts its Formentor SUV with a 5-cylinder 390 horsepower!

Hyundai Ioniq 5, a concept car… as standard!

Porsche 911 + Los Angeles = an incredible series of photos!

Alpha Motor Jax, an XXL electric coupé with a neo-retro look

Audi lifts the veil on the e-tron GT, its electric sports car… and desirable!

Jaguar revives the Type-C, icon of the 50s