Secret Mercedes Museum - the ultimate Benz Car Cave?

Secret Mercedes Museum - the ultimate Benz Car Cave? Jonny Smith is invited for a tour of a stunning private museum entirely populated by classic Mercedes. The man behind this beautiful obsession is Danny Lucas who, as you can imagine, is nothing short of Mercedes mad. Despite being called Lucas, he's clearly more of a Bosch electrics man. This place is not a public museum, it is a completely private Car Cave that exists in plain sight behind blank roller shutter doors. 

Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.

Danz Benz is the name of his collection, and Danny has channelled his adoration for classic Mercs and business of shop fitting to create a space like Jonny has never seen outside of Stuttgart. Open the door and we are greeted by resin floors, vivid spotlights and rows of curated cars from the 1960s to the 1990s. Actually, the earliest is 1880s, because Danny even has a functioning replica of the first car - the patented 1886 Carl Benz  “vehicle powered by a gas engine".

Please see the chapters for each vehicle featured in this episode.

This was a very special shoot, because Jonny was granted full access to the museum for the day. Danny's enthusiasm for the cars he grew up seeing and aspiring to own bled through in every conversation. Each car in the museum was chased down and bought for its condition or backstory. Danny didn't go down the predictable AMG path, instead he picked immaculate examples with odd specifications or back stories.

He has Sir Stirling's 1990 SL500, the founder of the Jubilee Clip's S-class 450SEL, a 1970s SLC rally car that rekindled Merc's racing division (more of which in a future episode), a line of early SLs and a mezzanine full of '80s Mercs. This is how many of us dream of presenting our worshipped favourite machines, yet Danny ensures they are all on the button and road legal. He can even get any of them out within 20 minutes. 

Car Caves is proudly supported by EBC Brakes. Follow EBC Brakes via:
Instagram: @ebcbrakesofficial

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Thank you for watching The Late Brake Show. If you haven't already, SUBSCRIBE for a broad-church of automotive appreciation spanning EV, classic, modified and future tech.

Jonny Smith Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:19 the secret door
1:43 Supported by EBC Brakes
2:11 World's first car - 1886 Benz
5:27 1975 450SLC rally car
7:00 W123 230TE Service mechanic car
9:07 Danny's kiddie car SL
10:05 Concours SL Pagoda
12:04 R107 300SL 
13:35 Stirling Moss' 1990 R129 500 SL
15:59 Valtteri Bottas borrowed his car
17:03 How the museum was built
18:02 100kg giant Merc star hanging above!
18:48 W109 300 SEL 3.5 V8
20:38 W116 450 SEL V8
21:05 Owned by inventor of Jubilee clip!
23:55 All cars on the button
24:35 1980s upstairs area
25:21 US spec W126 turbo diesel
27:39 W126 560SEL
28:43 W126 380SEL base model
29:53 C126 560SEC 
30:41 C124 230CE
31:44 Merc 500E
34:31 'Baby Benz' & Bruno Sacco shrine
37:23 Outro chat

#raremercedes #privatecarcollection #bestmercedes #secretcarmuseum #carcave #thelatebrakeshow

[cjp]

Absolutely brilliant, lost in a world of Mercs for 38 mins.
A certain auction site, is the next port of call...🤦🏻‍♂️
Such a great channel Jonny, I can't think of anything else on YouTube that got such a wide reaching playlist that has something for every petrol/leccy head. Sir I tip my hat...🎩

[TBATTIECYCLING]

The passion in the owners face, can tell how hard he’s worked and how proud he is of this museum

[jeremymurfitt]

I bet there are many YouTubers, Motoring Journalists, Magazine Editors how would give their right arm for opportunities to preview unique collections like this. All credit to "The Late Brake Show", well done and such an easy to watch casual interview style.

[slipmat]

Jonny, your videos are just on a different level, from 911 barn finds, to private museums. I cant wait to see what this year is going to bring. The Late Brake Show has come out the blocks for 2022 at 100mph, cant wait what you are going to surprise us all with.

[MarcCoteMusic]

Danny's passion for Mercedes Benz cars is palpable in this episode. Good on him for making his dream come true. Good episode, Jonny.

[esdeekay]

A deeply genuine collector.
I love the way he tells every car's history.
Amazing collection.

[spainter]

I love the 80's era of Mercedes, so understated and classy. Brilliant episode!

[SmallBlogV]

It threw me off that such a Merc expert kept calling the first-gen SL an 'SLR' when the ones he referenced weren't -Rs... the only SLR Gullwing would be the Uhlenhaut Coupé which is a priceless one-off. Well, two-off.
Regardless of that, though, this is a really remarkable space with some brilliant and unexpected examples lurking around. Having been to Stuttgart (and MB World Brooklands) he's got the aesthetic exactly right. Really cool.

[marcjudge]

When I get my Mercedes serviced I have seen Danny E500 and his blue w126 and drooling over them, like Danny I'm a mercedes enthusias and want the best or nothing. I'm glad I have my car serviced at the same place. Stevensons telling me about your collection and wanting to see it. Now I have. Thank you jonny for sharing my passion with the 3 pointed star. Excellent review 👏

[Back_Road_Hero]

Brought a tear to my eye. One of my favourite memories was in my dad’s 200e back in the 80s as a kid and the three pointed star over the bonnet. It’s the reason I’m a ‘petrol head’ today. Such a great private collection. Ed

[AbarthSimca]

As a W123 300TD estate owner I was blown away by this collection. Danny is a top bloke who oozes passion and knowledge with quality Mercs full of amazing provenance. I hope one day I get the chance to view this personally. Top work Jonny.

[onlyequity]

Never thought touring a museum on-line could be so exciting. My dad had a rare 1957 220S (if I recall correctly) and we drove to the city in a 1963 190D for years. To the data of the 190E 'Baby Benz', I believe it had 122 bhp, not 322 as shown at 35:23. I can feel and share the love for special, older cars as expressed here wonderfully.

[douglasgoncalves]

This private collection of MB models is superior to many museums. What a fabulous collection. The owner is truly passionate at everything he does.

[SmashGhost]

He speaks as if he knew the people, witnessed the production line issues. Way too much into himself.

[LotCARS]

Hi Jonny, this made my week as an MB fan and W201 owner. Glad to see the baby Benz given some airtime. Your channel just keeps giving, fantastic, thanks!!!

[TheLuisg]

Is good to see humble examples like the W201, C124 and low specs cars getting proper care in a collection. Those models usually are abused or left to rot because they are worth nothing, so is good to know someone is preserving these kind of cars.

By the way, there is no doubt these cars are driven, you can see a little bit of brake dust in some wheels.

[puggzymalone]

Oh my god Danny I love what you've done! Your collection/museum to excellence is what i would do if I had the money! My first car was a Mercedes 190E and ever since then I've become obsessed with old Mercedes. I've always thought that just one company can provide you with every type of vehicle from truck to supercar to off road to any type of motoring. My favourites are the original G-Wagen, the Uni-Mog and obviously the 190E!

[bmwed]

Just spend 38 minutes on the toilet, watching this video.

[bobbyfloor]

What a fantastically geeky man. Hats off, that's dedication to the brand. His museum makes me think of a one make Jay Leno's garage (not the channel, the building) vibe. Wonderful.

[LCOF]

Someone should tell Shmee this is what a curated museum looks like. Each car has a unique story which is celebrated in its own way. In a perfect world this would be the minimum expectation when presenting a car collection.