Millennials’ dream cars: “Youngtimer” special exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum

Thinking back to when we were young: Cars from our childhood and youth evoke experiences, memories and emotions – they have dream potential. The “Youngtimer” special exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum turns the clock back some 20 years and stages the new special exhibition with plenty of colour, lightness, contemporary exhibits and ten vehicles from the 1990s and 2000s. It can be seen at the Mercedes-Benz Museum from 11 April to 2 November 2025.

The young classics in Collection Room 5 tell the story of their time on elaborately designed thematic display islands. “Easy Life” is a homage to the 1990s with the SLK (170 series) and CLK Cabriolet (208 series) – two icons of the product initiative. “Supersonic”, with the 190 E 2.5 EVO II (201 series), E 500 Limited (124 series) and SLR McLaren Roadster (199 series), stands for the harmony of performance and the joy of innovation. The E 60 AMG power saloon (210 series) is the centrepiece of the individual and creative “Subculture”. The CL 600 (215 series) and CLS 350 CGI (219 series) demonstrate luxuriously elegant sportiness in the “Refinement” section. Finally, “Space” focuses on visionary approaches in technology and design with the SL 500 (129 series) and Vision R 320 CDI (251 series).

Advertising

In addition, the large glass cubes in the Museum’s multistorey car park will showcase five more young classics until at least mid-October 2025. The following models can be experienced there: a 160 “Häkkinen” (168 series), CL 500 (140 series), ML 500 (163 series), Vision CLK 320 CDI (209 series) and C 55 AMG (203 series). The presentation here is unusual as well, as each vehicle is staged as a model car in oversized “sales packaging”. Another young classic will be on display on the “Classic” island near the escalator between Levels 0 and 1 until at least mid-June 2025: the A-Class HyPer concept car (168 series).

Each of these young classics tells its own exciting story. The CL 600, for example, is the première vehicle of the C 215 series at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999 and boasts exceptional equipment features. Concept vehicles such as the A-Class HyPer, Vision R 320 CDI, Vision CLK 320 CDI Cabriolet and CLS 350 CGI show drive innovations important at the time. The A 160 “Häkkinen” is one of only 125 vehicles built with the name of the famous racing driver on both sides and also bears his signature on the bonnet and steering wheel.

The “Youngtimer” special exhibition offers fun and entertainment at several interactive stations supported by artificial intelligence, such as the arcade racing game in the style of the 1990s or the creation of a short music clip. With the “Face Swap” tool, visitors can use artificial intelligence to integrate their face into existing images, and at the “Refinement” station they can create a dream image with a young classic.

The vehicles in the “Youngtimer” special exhibition in Collection Room 5

Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (201 series), 1990

Mercedes-Benz E 500 Limited (124 series), 1994

Mercedes-Benz E 60 AMG (210 series), 1997

Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor (170 series), 1997

Mercedes-Benz Vision CLK 320 CDI Cabriolet (208 series), 1998

Mercedes-Benz CL 600 (215 series), 1999

Mercedes-Benz SL 500 (129 series), 2000

Mercedes-Benz Vision R 320 CDI (251 series), 2005

Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI (219 series), 2006

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (199 series), 2007

Multistorey car park display cases – The vehicles