Hanna Tawfiq Gargour presenting the late King Hussein with the iconic 300SL Gullwing Mercedes that was developed from the successful 300SL W194 racing sports cars with which Mercedes had won the Le Mans 24-Hour race in 1952.

T. Gargour & Fils (TGF) was founded in 1928 in Jaffa, Palestine by the late Tawfiq Gargour, and later joined by his four sons: Nicolas, Habib, John (Hanna), and Allenby. In its early years, TGF focused on trade — dealing in everything from Jaffa oranges to steel, foodstuffs, and other essential commodities. Among its partners were some of Europe’s largest industrial firms, including Salzgitter. Then came the twist that would change everything. In 1936, TGF reached out to Mercedes-Benz in Germany. Instead of paying in cash, they sealed the deal with shiploads of Jaffa oranges — about 500 boxes per car. Yes, you read that right: Mercedes for citrus. This unique barter arrangement launched what would become one of the longest-standing partnerships in the automotive world, making TGF the first importer of Mercedes-Benz in Palestine — and later, in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Over the decades, TGF evolved into a multi-million dollar business empire. By the 1960s, the group had expanded into shipping and trading companies across 15 countries, including Europe and Canada. TGF also made maritime history by acting as the agent for the first vessel to dock at Aqaba Port in 1953. It went on to own a fleet under the name Associated Levant Lines, operating 12 reefer ships that ran regular cargo routes from Europe to the Levant from the early 1960s until the late 1990s. Today, TGF is a regional leader in shipping and logistics, with a modern network of offices in Amman, Aqaba, Tartous, Lattakia, Baghdad, and Basrah. In addition, TGF proudly serves as the official agent in Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine for prestigious automotive brands including Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.