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Some car enthusiasts prefer the sheer elegance of a traditional German car over anything else, while some get bowled over by the hooliganism of old-school American V8 cars. Wonder how both the essences can work magic in a single package? Ask Icon 4×4, one of the most renowned restomod creators in the US, has come up with one such wild recipe with a custom 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL.
One of the most elegant sedans one could buy in the late 1960s, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL still can make one go weak on his knees with its timeless and charismatic design. And while it also came with a sweet and powerful 6.3-liter M100 V8 engine, Icon 4×4 has reimagined it with an all-American heart. For this Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL restomod, the folks at Icon 4×4 have replaced the smooth German V8 with a loud and supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette – a typical American heart. Priced at $450,000 and available through special commission, it is one cross-continental association and one of the finest restomods by Icon 4×4 that car enthusiasts will surely admire.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL By Icon 4×4 Is A German Lady With An American Heart
In 1968, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL arrived with a 6.3-liter fuel-injected M100 V8, capable of producing 247 hp of power and 434 lb-ft of torque. While these figures were quite ‘enthusiastic’ for their times, they appear meager by today’s standards. Icon 4×4 gave this car a boost, but with a twist.
Instead of tuning the engine to churn out more horsepower, Icon 4×4 swapped the original M100 V8 of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL with a 6.2-liter supercharged LS9 V8 from the sixth-generation Corvette ZR1. The heart behind one of the most powerful modern American sports cars, this LS-series V8 from General Motors claimed 638 hp of power and 604 lb-ft in the sixth-gen Corvette ZR1.
While Icon 4×4 hasn’t revealed the power and torque figures of its reworked 300 SEL with this LS9 V8 engine, we expect this engine to develop similar performance figures in the 300 SEL too.
This LS9 V8-powered Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL is paired with a hand-built 4L85E 4-speed automatic transmission from General Motors. To ensure that the 300 SEL handles all the additional horsepower in abundance, it gets a custom-hardened chassis from Art Morrison. While the car gets four-wheel adjustable coil overs with an independent rear suspension, Icon 4×4 has added a power-assisted rack and pinion steering. To keep this reworked 300 SEL with an added performance on its toes, Icon 4×4 has also added Brembo brakes with Hydratech power assist.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL By Icon 4×4 Retains The Timeless Appeal
In its four years of existence between 1968 and 1972, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL came out as one of the most luxurious full-sized performance sedans money could buy. The elegant vintage looks of the four-door 300 SEL still look timeless, something that Icon 4×4 hasn’t tampered with much. For this restomod 300 SEL, Icon 4×4 chose to stick with the original design and silver color of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL.
Besides retaining the stock paint, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL modified by Icon 4×4 looks even more premium with all the original stainless steel and chrome touches at the right places. One gets a shiny finish for the front grille, headlamp and tail lamp surrounds, front and rear bumpers, windshield, and side window surrounds. A chrome lining flows through the door panels and merges with the boot lid chrome strip at the back. While Icon 4×4 chose to maintain the originality of the 300 SEL as much as possible, it gets a few modern touches. The car has wheels machined from one-piece aluminum, the latest tubeless tires, and all-LED headlamps.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL By Icon 4×4 Has a Premium And Classy Interior
For its times, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was a supremely luxurious, high-end sedan with features like central locking, power windows, air conditioning, and a music system. While these features might be too mainstream in the current era, they were the talk of the hour among the cars in the late 1960s when the 300 SEL came out in the market. Icon 4×4 chose to retain the simple but classy interior of the 300 SEL but has given its touches to add the element of exclusivity.
To start with, Icon 4×4 has upgraded the cabin with faux wood inserts and fine materials. While the original music system of the 300 SEL has been retained, it gets updates such as Bluetooth connectivity, four upgraded K2 Focal speakers, and a dual subwoofer and amplifier. While the air conditioning unit of the 300 SEL has been reworked, it now also gets the added convenience of heated seats.
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