Growing up in Havana, Cuba, Lester Ruiz was surrounded by classic cars since his earliest memories, becoming intimately familiar with the plethora of 1950s classics cruising the city streets. From repairing his grandmother’s car on her front porch to working on a neighbour’s old Mercedes under a tree in Miramar, Lester’s world has always revolved around cars. In his adult life, after immigrating from Cuba, Lester worked for many years as a technician at Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, until he founded Miami Benz in 2006. In the years since, Miami Benz has grown to become Miami’s leading Mercedes-Benz autocare and diagnostics centre, making it the perfect place for your classic or modern Benz to receive some TLC.
In 2016, Lester added restoration to Miami Benz’s list of services. That year, he and his daughter Valentina found a 1979 SL 450 convertible in a barn. It was in terrible condition, but Lester could see the car’s potential, thus embarking on a three year restoration that culminated in the gorgeous blue example you see here, now proudly known as Project #1. Not only is this car Valentina’s most prized possession, but it was the spark that launched Miami Benz’s Classics & Antiques Division.
Operating out of two distinct workshop spaces, one 15,000 square feet and the other 20,000 square feet, Miami Benz boasts an on-site Sentry Diagnostic Machine, which is a genuine Mercedes Diagnostic Tool capable of programming any Mercedes-Benz onboard-computer and diagnosing issues, in addition to a dozen expert technicians ready to make your Benz feel like it just left the factory.
Despite the superb quality of their work, Lester still believes these classics deserve to be driven: “I don’t believe in making museum pieces for people to gawk at,” says Lester. “I believe in restoring these antique cars to their former glory — so they can be used and driven, just as they were meant to be. That’s my biggest goal and passion.” Today, Miami Benz continues to honour that mission: preserving the soul of every Mercedes, old and new, and keeping its story on the road. Visit their website to get your Mercedes booked in today.
Photos by Albert Manduca
