The Devers Difference

For seventy years, the Devers name has represented Mercedes-Benz heritage, quality, and customer service. Long before the glow of modern glass and steel illuminated the corner of Monroe Street in Sylvania, the land beneath Vin Devers Autohaus was nothing more than a contested patch of land. In 1933, the federal government granted General David White a tract of land northwest of Toledo for his excellent service in the War of 1812. Three years later, a town named Sylvania, derived from the Latin word for “woods,” was recorded as a new settlement. Today, Sylvania is a prosperous Midwestern community. At the center of this unique city is perhaps one of the most extraordinary family-owned Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country: Vin Devers Autohaus. At the heart of that legacy is Paul Devers, dealer principal, heritage specialist, mentor, Mercedes-Benz collector, and one of the most quietly influential figures in the world of Mercedes-Benz.

The story begins with Vincent “Vin” Devers, whose name has stood proudly since founding Vin Devers Autohaus in 1956. Vin worked in Toledo’s auto industry, rising through the ranks at a large Ford store, from salesman to assistant manager, then to general manager, and eventually to vice president. He expected to buy the dealer-ship, but when the deal fell through, he walked away. Vin spent nearly a year searching for the right opportunity. When he found a small Mercury franchise in Sylvania, he purchased it with his own money. No outside investors, no safety net, only conviction. From the beginning, he showed up every day in a suit and tie, running the business with intensity and integrity. He had one rule for his sons: never ruin what he built. He was serious enough to say that if they ever did, he would sell the business immediately. Even as he aged, Vin remained present. Into his late eighties, he would return from Florida and resume his place in the showroom, greeting customers, mentoring staff, and preserving the dealership philosophy that still defines it.

Raised in the Showroom

For Paul Devers, the dealership wasn’t simply a workplace; it was home. As a boy, he would ride along with his father on late nights, staying at the store until 9 p.m. while watching salespeople close deals and technicians finish jobs. By 14, he was working Saturdays; by 16, he was rotating through every department. “My dad believed you couldn’t lead a department unless you’d done the work yourself,” Paul recalls. “Detail, service, parts, collision, auctions – I did all of it”. He went on to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, drawn to its automotive marketing program and NADA-backed curriculum. He graduated in 1982 and returned immediately to the store, never spending a single day of his adult career anywhere else. His brother, Tom Devers, followed a similar path; working in the body shop, building race cars, turning wrenches, and becoming a cornerstone of the dealership before retiring due to health concerns. At 65 years young, Paul’s commitment has not wavered. He refers to himself as a “heritage specialist,” and it is no hyperbole. He carries encyclopedic knowledge of the brand’s history and has become a trusted advisor within Mercedes-Benz circles.

In a dealership landscape increasingly dominated by corporate groups and quarterly targets, Vin Devers Autohaus feels refreshingly different. The atmosphere is warm, human, and intentional; built around hospitality, long-term relationships, and what Paul calls the “Devers Difference.” The dealership features a cappuccino bar, healthy snacks, comfortable lounges, a hand-wash car wash program that brings customers back regularly, and a boutique with Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG® Petronas apparel. But the heart of the philosophy is cultural, not cosmetic. Paul runs the store like a sports team, a reflection of his background in golf, tennis, and football. He prefers hiring athletes: people who are competitive, coachable, and accustomed to discipline. “You’re only as good as your troops,” Paul says. “I coach my team firm but fair, and you need empathy. You never know what season of life someone is going through.” The dealership’s loyalty is legendary, Repeat customers travel from multiple states. Staff routinely stay for decades. Paul Devers extends the Mercedes-Benz experience beyond the showroom by gifting a MBCA membership to every customer who purchases a new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz, encouraging a deeper appreciation of the marque and engagement with the enthusiast community.

Paul isn’t just a dealer; he is a national voice within the Mercedes-Benz heritage ecosystem. He sits on a Mercedes-Benz advisory committee focused on classic cars and parts availability, working closely with the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Long Beach, CA, and the Mercedes-Benz Classic global heritage team. He pushes strongly for better support for analog cars. “Heritage cars need parts. We’re losing too many components to NLA status. There is a real opportunity here; not just tor profits, but for preserving history”. Paul’s advocacy extends to enthusiast communities as well. He has served multiple elected terms on the Mercedes-Benz Dealer Board, one of the highest dealer-level roles in MBUSA, and he currently sits on the board of the Gullwing Group, guiding one of the most important classic Mercedes-Benz organizations in the world. Perhaps his most influential move was advocating for the SLS AMG to be accepted into the Gullwing Group. Some members resisted, but Paul stood firm. “If we don’t bring younger owners in, this heritage will disappear”. Today, SLS AMG values have soared, and the decision has proven visionary.

At 20 years old, while restoring a De Tomaso Pantera, Paul watched Vern open dusty boxes of lead bars. “Teach me,” Paul asked. Vern then taught Paul how to “lead in” a car’s steel body instead of using body filler. Vern had him fetch used motor oil, cut an old antifreeze jug as a tray, heated the panel and the lead, then used oil-soaked wooden spatulas to shape the molten lead so it wouldn’t stick. That moment, shaping molten lead with an oil-soaked wooden paddle, had cemented Paul’s reverence for craftsmanship. When Daimler and Chrysler merged, Vin Devers Autohaus, being both a Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz dealer, became an unexpected media hotspot. Satellite trucks parked behind the store. Reporters from Europe and Asia called for interviews. A major English newspaper ran a front-page business story featuring a young Paul. Years later, recounting these tales to Dr. Dieter Zetsche at his induction ceremony at the 2025 Automotive Hall of Fame, Paul made him laugh so hard he nearly stopped signing books. When Mercedes-Benz Manhattan reopened after a $40 million renovation, Paul was asked by David Tait, general manager, to bring “something special.” He sent two special cars. His Sea Biscuit yellow 300 SL Roadster and his AMG ONE, flown to JFK by Mercedes-Benz alongside other Pebble Beach cars. A testament to not only Paul’s loyalty, but also his appreciation for acknowledging special moments within the marque’s history.

Paul’s AMG ONE story is a direct reflection of the article title: “Passion for Heritage. He first heard rumors of the “Project One” hypercar about eight or nine years ago. For a long time, AMG® staff would deny or deflect, but eventually he got in touch with the right people, who explained that the car would be limited to a “one-tenth of one percent” type of customers worldwide, and that Mercedes-AMG® would select owners by application, similar to how Ford allocated the GT. Paul did not get an allocation in the first wave. But after AMG® got to know him better, he received a call that a cancellation slot had opened, and they wanted him to have it. As he tells it, AMG® said, “If anybody deserves one of these cars, you deserve one.” The reasoning: his deep passion for Mercedes-Benz heritage and his family dealership’s 60+ years with the brand. He also owns a GT Black Series, another modern halo car that will clearly be a future classic. Both cars are owned by the dealership and used to represent heritage-meets-modern performance, such as at the Mercedes-Benz Manhattan reopening, where his AMG® ONE and yellow 300 SL were displayed.

The Future and the Question of Legacy

At 65, Paul hopes to continue working into his eighties, just as his father did. But he is pragmatic. His children and sons-in-law are not involved. When he eventually steps aside, the dealership will likely be sold. The Devers name will come off the sign. A new identity will take its place. “If it’s sold, they’ll sink or swim on their own. But until then, this place stays exactly as my father intended.” Toledo’s evolving economy, anchored by solar energy, logistics, and medical technology, keeps the dealership busy. Its position at the crossroads of I-75 and I-80/90 brings Sprinter drivers from across the country into its service bays. The Autohaus remains, as always, a gathering spot for MBCA events, Cars & Coffee mornings, heritage shows, and connection.

A Legacy worth Preserving

To know Paul is to understand what it means to be a steward of the brand. He bridges generations of cars, customers, and craftsmen. He is a dealer principal who still knows how to lead load a panel, who remembers every model nuance, and who believes the past is not something to admire but something to protect. In an era of consolidation, automation, and corporate sameness, Paul Devers is truly one of one. His Autohaus remains one of the finest examples of what a Mercedes-Benz dealership can be when guided by history, heart, and unwavering dedication to the star. “I have never worked anywhere else,” Paul says. “This business is my life. Every day I walk in here, I feel connected to what my father built.”

Employees who became Pillars

“VERN” – 82 years old, body shop craftsman, with over 50 years at the dealership. He taught Paul at age 20 how to lead-load a car using a torch, lead bars, and paddles dripped in motor oil.

JASON PERRY – General Sales Manager, started washing at 18, now 37 years with the Autohaus.

BRIAN LAVOY – Pre-owned Manager, with 36+ years of loyalty and respected leadership.

Paul also recruits what he calls “farm kids”. Young people who grew up tossing hay bales, repairing tractors, and learning mechanical empathy long before they set foot in a dealership. Their work ethic is unmatched. Their loyalty is steady. And their minds say “repair before replace,” which is increasingly rare.

55 years Dealer Award presented to Paul Devers (above)

(Photo’d above) Participants include: Jason Perry (General Manager of Vin Devers Inc.), Gorden Wagener (Chief Design Officer of Mercedes-Benz), Paul Devers (Owner of Vin Devers Inc.), Adam Chamberlain (CEO of MBUSA) & Greg Gates.

A Collector with a Purpose

Paul collects cars with an eye toward history, rarity, and narrative strength.

300 TD Wagon

• Smoke Silver metallic.
• Palomino leather (not MB-Tex), which is quite rare.
• Turbo diesel.
• One of Paul’s favorite cars to drive, he happily cruises it at 85 mph.

W124 300 TE AMG® (Japan Market)

• Left-hand drive, originally delivered to Japan.
• Equipped with an AMG® 3.4L bored-out engine.
• Recaro seats, subtle AMG® wheels, and a light kit.
• Everything silvered, grille, wipers, washer nozzles, and very distinctive, period-correct AMG® build.

C 123 300 CD Turbo Diesel Coupe (formerly owned)

• Bought as a one-owner California car from an 85-year old German gentleman who worked at the German consulate/chancellery in L.A.
• Light ivory with Palomino MB-Tex, very clean and mostly original paint.
• Paul eventually sold it to another Ohio collector and regrets selling it.

300 SL (formerly owned)

• A 300 SL that came out of the estate of another Mercedes-Benz dealer, close friend of Paul’s parents.
• The car has never been titled to a customer.
• It effectively went from one Mercedes-Benz dealer to another as a “dealer trade” in the early to mid-1980’s.

Mercedes 600 W 100 (Short Wheelbase)

• Silver with blue interior, 32,000 original miles.
• Came from the collection of the man who founded The Villiages in Florida.
• Paul calls it “the most complicated car” he’s ever worked on, trunk, sunroof, etc., and the system leaks everywhere if the car sits too long.
• His lesson learned: the best way to keep a 600 alive is to drive it constantly, not let it sit.

Five SLS AMG® models (Modern Halo Cars)

• AMG® GT Black Series; owned by the dealership.
• AMG® ONE; also owned by the dealership, obtained via a special, selective process.
• These cars are new, untitled, dealer-owned, and clearly chosen with an eye toward future collectability and brand storytelling.

1958 L319 (Vehicle Hauler)

• Painted in the original colors and spec inspired by the 1955 Mercedes-Benz high-speed racing transporter “Blue Wonder”.
• The L319 features 300 SL plaid interior seats. The doors of the transporter are adorned with “Autohaus Devers Mercedes-Benz Service” and feature the old, period-correct phone number.
• The car hauler turns heads everywhere it goes.