Ian and Sarah Milford’s business restores and maintains some of the finest historic cars. They appreciate high-quality engineering, and vehicles which are built to last, which is why they’re now running their second Mercedes-Benz Vito van.
The couple established Milford Vintage Engineering, in the village of Kirkmichael, in rural Perthshire, in 2005. They have built an admirable reputation within the tightly-knit classic car community for the quality of their work – and they demand the same high standards when it comes to their own vehicles.
Their new Vito 114 CDI PROGRESSIVE L1 arrived via the Dundee branch of Dealer Western Commercial. Its advanced 2.1-litre engine produces 140 hp and drives the rear wheels – other Vito variants are available with front-wheel drive. The van combines outstanding 43.5 mpg economy with well proven reliability.
To the Vito’s comprehensive standard specification, Mr and Mrs Milford added a host of options, including an uprated Audio 40 infotainment system with touchscreen and DAB radio, a reversing camera, heated seats, air-conditioning, and LED lights in the load area. The rear doors also have glazed window panels.
The vehicle’s smart metallic Canvasite Blue paintwork is a very close match to Milford Vintage Engineering’s corporate shade, and extends to its colour-coded bumpers.
Milford Vintage Engineering’s second Vito is now making regular trips to machine shops, shot-blasters and specialist parts suppliers as far afield as the south of England, as well as ferrying customers to the nearest main-line railway station, approximately 30 miles away in Perth. It will also be used for the annual trip to the Beaulieu Autojumble event, in Hampshire, and will act as a mobile advertisement for the company at car shows across the UK.
The new Vito has replaced a 2012 version which provided reliable service for seven years. It was delivered to the Milfords by Western Commercial Key Account Manager Vyga Mikuckis, who took back their previous van in part exchange. That vehicle’s inherent reliability, coupled with the Dealer’s customer-focused aftersales support, made a lasting impression.
Sarah Milford recalled: “We had been running a van by another manufacturer, but it was giving us a lot of problems and we weren’t happy with the back-up from the supplier. We started, therefore, to look at alternatives, and were quickly struck both by the appearance of the Vito, and by Vyga’s professional and attentive approach.
“Our first Vito turned out to be an excellent investment. Vyga came out and collected the van every time it was due for a service, and he left us with a courtesy vehicle to use until he brought it back. Routine maintenance apart, it never saw the inside of a workshop.”
Hardly surprising, then, that another Vito was at the top of the couple’s ‘wish list’ when they came to buy a new van. “If I’m honest, we didn’t really consider anything else,” said Mrs Milford. “Our second Vito is very stylish and a lot more comfortable than the van it’s replaced, and came with a reassuring array of safety features too. If it also turns to be as reliable as its predecessor, we’ll be very happy indeed.”
Mercedes-Benz is renowned as the van industry leader on safety. The Vito’s standard specification includes Adaptive ESP®, the anti-skid system that takes account of a vehicle’s load status, Crosswind Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, and airbags for both the driver and co-driver.
Ian and Sarah Milford both worked with classic, vintage and veteran cars before they set up their business 14 years ago. They and their team of three mechanics have since restored, repaired and maintained historic cars ranging from veterans built in the early 1900s, through Rolls-Royces and Bentleys of the 1920s and ’30s, to 1960s Jaguar E-Type and Austin Healey sports cars.
