I’ve always loved the Mercedes-Benz W108 chassis. The goal was to achieve an American hot rod style German sedan; chopped roof, Lincoln-style suicide doors, black paint, and American muscle.
After three weeks of searching, we found one on eBay in Pennsylvania. Sight unseen we bought it and a friend drove it back to Charlotte for me. The seller was an older man who had owned the car since new, and it was mint. We felt so bad about cutting it up that we didn’t tell him our intentions with his beloved car.
The original plan was a naturally aspirated 5.7L LS1, but as most builds go, it snowballed. We ended up ripping out the 5.7L and putting in a built 5.3L LS motor with a BorgWarner 66mm turbo. We routed the twin wastegate dump tubes out the top of the hood.
On top of that, we added a sequential shifter box with the T-56 6-speed transmission.
Inside, Mike wanted a combination of things: a hardcore look with modern amenities, but also a vintage feel to match the era of the Mercedes.
We started with black suede and leather with hexagon patterns. The headrests were shaved off the front seats and we opted for red lap belts. There are carbon fiber dash accents and a gear position indicator in the center.
The steering wheel is from a Mercedes-AMG C63, which took some lathe work to make it work as we had to retain the C63 steering column. We also added all the nice stuff like power windows, door locks, and a Bluetooth stereo system.
To continue the old school, low rider style we decided to go with air ride, but we wanted a quick lift and drop. We built the system with half-inch lines front to rear and a manual seven-switch controller. We also installed an Air Lift Performance 3P management system with quarter-inch lines for smooth operation and fine adjustment. With everything exposed in the trunk, it looks pretty cool and complex at the same time.
It certainly drives like an old Benz, very soft and subtle. We tested the car without a front sway bar and quickly found it needs something to handle the added weight of the LS – nearly double the weight of the original drivetrain. We built a NASCAR-style front sway bar out of 1.25-inch solid steel.
The Mercedes has been one of the most rewarding builds to date. Seeing everyone’s expression and the comments online make my day every time. Making people happy and seeing a product from start to finish always makes it worth all the stress and hard work.
Mike Ngo
Instagram: Eurowise_Performance
Engine
5.3 LS
Bored .30 over
Forged pistons
Comp cam
High rev springs. Retainers. Rockers.
Tubular forward facing manifolds
Borg Warner S366 turbo ceramic coated
Full 3” exhaust jet hot coated chrome
Fitech Intake manifold
Fitech stand-alone computer
Holley valve covers
Custom front sump
Custom oil cooler
Eurowise front mount intercooler
Turbosmart bov
Vibrant intercooler tubing
10 gallon fuel cell
Triple Bosch 044 fuel pumps
Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator
6 speed T56 transmission
S1 sequential gear shifter
ACT 6 puck clutch
Act lightened flywheel
Exterior
69 280s chassis
Chopped 4 inches from roof
Suicide door conversion
Shaved body moldings
Tucked front and rear bumpers
Shaved front and rear side markers
Shaved rear emblems
Retrofitted quad projector headlights
Custom front valence
Tucked rear plate lights
Suspension
Wilwood master cylinder
Wilwood remote reservoirs
Brembo 8 piston calipers front
Wilwood hydraulic ebrake
Brembo 4 postoperative calipers rear
Mercedes E55 front and rear discs
Custom machines brake mounts
Custom airbag suspension
Airlift management 1/4 lines
Manual management 1/2 lines
Custom front sway bar
Interior
Complete upholstered interior
Leather wrapped dash red stitching
Hexagon pattern suede seat and door panels
Deleted headrests
Suede headliner
Carbon fiber wrapper dash and trim
C63 3 spoke steering wheel conversion
Since 2008, we have been bringing our customers the best in automotive service. We at Eurowise specialize in European automotive service and repair. Specifically Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche. We strive to be the best provider for your automotive needs.
We provide a full range of service work, everything from regular maintenance to replacing time chains. We also guarantee our work and are always willing to beat dealership and competitors pricing! Come experience our personable service advisors and technicians. Our customer goals are long term and honest relationships, not quick in and out service. At Eurowise we always put our customers first.
Eurowise Performance:
704-559-8100
info@eurowise.com
441 springbrook rd
Charlotte NC, 28217
Address: 441 Springbrook Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Hours: Open today · 9AM–6PM
Phone: (704) 559-8100
