Eid Miracle: How a Cape Town Man Won a 40-Year-Old Mercedes W123 230E
Eid Miracle: How a Cape Town Man Won a 40-Year-Old Mercedes W123 230E
Mohammed Ali Royker was sitting down to Eid lunch when his phone buzzed. He ignored the first call. It was a holiday, after all. When it rang a second time, a flicker of worry set in—maybe something was wrong. He picked up. On the other end was Candy, a manager at MUA Insurance, with news that would turn a special day into an unforgettable one.
Royker had just won a W123 230E, the classic Mercedes-Benz given away in a lucky draw by MUA Insurance and this publication at the Lourensford Wine Estate Car Show in Somerset West. “I could not believe the special news on a special day,” he says.
A Stuttgart Stormer in Blue
Since then, Royker has taken a few trips to Gordons Bay in his blue “Stuttgart-stormer.” The reactions have been something else. “Its incredible how many thumbs-ups I get, even in places like Camps Bay where Lambos roll around freely,” he says. For a 40-year-old car, the fuel consumption is on point, thanks to a fuel-injected 2.3-litre four-cylinder that has aged remarkably well.
The W123 series has long been cited as one of the most over-engineered cars on the planet, and Royker is the latest testament to that. “She runs beautifully, with under 130,000km on the clock and an immaculate interior,” he says.
But the cars true value goes beyond mechanics. Roykers mother had a white W123 280E growing up, so this car takes him way back to his youth. “Its also uncanny to have won this prize,” he says. “I was at the George Classic Car Show, where this car was on display, but I never actually got to see it in the flesh. I spotted a flyer promoting the prize and bought my ticket online while sitting at Nandos in George!”
A Family of Three-Pointed Stars
The Royker family is no stranger to the three-pointed star. Their collection includes an SL, a Ponton and a W108. So when Royker had been eyeing a beige W123 230E up in Joburg a few weeks earlier—similar mileage, owner asking close to two hundred grand—something told him to wait. “And here we are,” he laughs.
Despite the many offers hes had for the car, theres no way hell part with it. On his to-do list: some paint repairs and a few minor interior corrections. Otherwise, the 230E is as good a daily runner as it gets. “I wasnt a fan of the aftermarket whitewall tyres, so I had those reversed as it gives the car a more modern look,” he concludes.
A Fitting Year for a Classic
Its also a fitting year to be winning such a prize. June 1926 saw the official birth of the marque, the result of a merger between Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie., establishing Daimler-Benz AG and making 2026 a centenary year for the Stuttgart giant. Add to that the 140th anniversary of Karl Benzs invention of the horseless motor carriage in 1886, and the 50th birthday of this very car, the W123.
“Giving away a car of this calibre has not been easy,” says MUA Insurance CEO Vajra Singh. “From the day we found it, we grew more and more fond of it, becoming a part of our MUA family. Parting with such a special piece of history was like saying goodbye to an old friend. The massive consolation is the R100,000-plus donation we were able to make to worthy causes through ticket sales, which in the end makes the entire initiative all the more special.”
We dont expect this to be the last classic that MUA Insurance gives away. Watch this space for that next big moment and your chance to fill your garage with something historic. Maybe something Bavarian the next time around?
Whats the one classic car youd wait for a second phone call to win? Sometimes the best things come when you least expect them—and when you least expect to answer.
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Mike Brown
Mike Brown – One of those authors who helps readers not get lost in today's news flow. He dives into political affairs as well as world events, social trends, and everyday stories that matter to everyone. The main focus of his work is fact-checking, clear language, and the ability to lay out the key points so that the reader gets a comprehensive and reliable picture of the topic in just a few minutes.
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