For Jayden Ho, preserving his family legacy has taken the form of not one, but two classic Mercedes-Benz sedans.
Both cars – a white W123 200-series sedan powered by a 2.0L M102, and a blue/grey W126 280S four-door with a 2.8L M110 six-cylinder engine – arrived in the former Portuguese colony as original Zung Fu (Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong/Macau dealer) imports, and Jayden’s grandfather was their original owner. When he retired from driving, Jayden became the cars’ primary custodian.
Jayden aims to preserve the cars’ originality as much as possible. Both remain largely unmodified, save for the addition of non-original catalytic converters to ensure they meet Euro 6 emission standards; one of many challenges that enthusiasts in Macau face in keeping their cherished vehicles roadworthy (namely, meeting ‘modern’ car standards with no exemption for classics).
The W126’s aesthetics are also defined by a set of AMG 3-piece Penta wheels, which Jayden purchased from a fellow W126 owner in neighboring Hong Kong. More subtle modifications are on Jayden’s list as he aims to improve the usability of his cars for the modern era, whilst maintaining their original ‘80s character.
While both Mercedes are more than 40 years old, they show little to no signs of age. Their MB-Tex leather upholstery has withstood many of Macau’s humid summer seasons, and the wood trim remains in good shape, as do the steering wheels and chrome exterior trim (including the W123’s hubcaps). Even all of the doors still shut close with their renowned ‘thunk’.
Both also maintain era-correct Macau license plate numbers, with the W126 currently registered under an ‘MB-prefix’ that is a subtle, but nice nod to its roots.
Driving down Cotai Strip (aka Macau’s Vegas Strip), Jayden’s Mercs turn heads. “Among Macau’s predominant sea of MPVs, EVs, and modern Benz sedans, even among regular crowds, these two draw a lot of attention,” says Jayden. “My budget as a student doesn’t allow me to have complete freedom with the cars, as gas is expensive here and the fuel gauges fall easily, so I treasure each moment I’m behind the wheel.”
“One of my fondest memories was cruising through old Macau city with George Michael’s 1984 classic ‘Careless Whisper’ playing on the stereo,” Jayden recalls. “I took the W123 out for the first time down one of the central roads, and it was peak nostalgia right there for me. Every drive I have in either car, I genuinely have an ear-to-ear grin, as memories all resurface. I grew up with these two cars, and I aim to return the favor, by taking care of them. I intend to keep them running as long as I can.”
