Mercedes Took Two Years to Reproduce This Classic Parking Brake Knob.

      Mercedes-Benz via Instagram

      Mercedes-Benz takes excellent care of its classic models. The company provides an in-house restoration service and reproduces parts that enable collectors to maintain their vintage cars without needing to resort to makeshift solutions. The latest addition to their offerings is a small yet noteworthy one: the company is reproducing the parking brake knob used in models like the R107 SL and W116 S-Class from the 1970s.

      In many older Mercedes vehicles, the parking brake is engaged by pressing a pedal with the left foot, while it is released by pulling a knob located on the left side of the dashboard. The release comes with a satisfying “clunk!” that would likely cause alarm in modern cars. The plastic release button screws onto the linkage and can crack over time due to varying cabin temperatures. Without it, releasing the parking brake becomes quite inconvenient.

      The Drive has learned from a Mercedes-Benz Heritage representative that even the reproduction of small trim pieces requires significant effort. This process can take several months or, for larger and more complex parts, several years. The brand starts by identifying parts that are about to become unavailable in its inventory or are already out of stock. They then contact the original supplier of the part, assuming that the supplier is still in business, which is not always the case for vehicles that are decades old.

      Even if the supplier is still operational, they may not want to invest the time and resources into reproducing a small part that may not yield substantial returns. Consequently, Mercedes sometimes needs to find a new partner. In this instance, Mercedes-Benz Heritage informed The Drive that the original supplier produced the last batch of parking brake knobs in 1975 and that the part has been unavailable for several years following the last sale. Due to sufficient demand, the company began seeking a new manufacturer towards the end of 2022.

      The first batch of reproduction parking brake knobs was ready for collectors about two years later. The identity of the new manufacturer has not been disclosed, but Mercedes-Benz Heritage assures us that the new part matches the original in feel, function, and quality. As with every reproduction part, this one underwent numerous real-world tests to guarantee it meets the same standards as a spare part for modern or recent cars before receiving approval. I haven't seen the actual part yet, but having driven vintage Mercedes-Benz models for nearly two decades, I’ve pulled that trim piece thousands of times. The new version appears to be spot-on in photos.

      Designated with part number A1155400028, the parking brake knob is part of a collection of over 160,000 reproduction parts for vintage Mercedes vehicles. It is available globally, several thousand units have been manufactured, and it is priced at €50 excluding tax and shipping (approximately $52 at the current exchange rate).

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