Limited edition model celebrates 20 years of the Mercedes Sprinter

It’s twenty years since the Mercedes Sprinter first graced these shores, so the manufacturer is celebrating with a limited edition model limited to just, er, 1,200 vans.

Standing out from a normal Sprinter thanks to ‘Sprinter 20’ badging, unique wheel trims and a chrome grille, the celebratory model also comes with air conditioning, satellite navigation and a Driver’s Comfort seat with arm rest.

Since the Sprinter first arrived in 1995, 327,201 have been sold in the UK to customers, over 250,000 of which were traditional panel vans. In the first month of sales (April 1995) just 56 Sprinters were sold, while the busiest month was September 2013 when 4,217 found new homes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most popular colour choice is white, with 199,794 vehicles sold since launch, followed by silver, with 14,313 vehicles in this colour.

Unless you know any different, there are no million-mile Sprinter vans out there just yet, but one 1999 van serviced by Mercedes-Benz had 995,242 miles on the clock. That’s likely to be overtaken by another van, registered in 2005, that’s racked up 964,436 miles so far.

“Mercedes-Benz has been making Vans since 1896 and has pioneered new standards in safety every step of the way, with Sprinter leading from the front,” commented Steve Bridge, managing director at Mercedes-Benz Vans. “From introducing ESP in 1995, offering the driver airbag as standard in 2000, launching Crosswind Assist in 2013, and most recently becoming the first manufacturer in the world to equip all new vans as standard with Rescue Assist QR code stickers, we have never sat still.”

The limited edition Sprinter is available from £27,063, or £259 per month with a £7,225 deposit.