This custom-made Mercedes-Benz 190 E could be mistaken for being an EVO model, but the supercharged V8 under the hood tells a different story......READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
When we or – for that matter – anyone hears of a big engine in a small car, people go berserk. It’s a lethal blend that might seem ridiculous to some, but it’s what gets the pulse racing for most enthusiasts.
This unique build you see might look like a regular 190E to you, but wait until you know what’s lurking beneath the old-school Mercedes-Benz body shell. The chassis and powertrain have been taken from a modern Mercedes C63 AMG sedan, and maybe, this is more fun than the iconic Evolution models from Mercedes-Benz.
An engine swap, it may seem like initially, but, it certainly is not! The AMG V8 engine is the talking point, but there’s more. Removing all the running gear from one car, and plonking it into another without messing with the engine’s true character is a challenge, and Piper Motorsport seems to have aced it meticulously with its recent custom build, the Frankenstein Benz.
A Mercedes-Benz 190E Body On A Modern C63 AMG Chassis Is Just Ridiculous
This Mercedes-Benz 190E body on a modern C63 AMG chassis is just ridiculous because it features the engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes, fire wall, dashboard, the whole driveline, and electronics, plus the floor pan of the modern AMG.
The donor car was featured on Piper Motorsport’s Facebook page five years ago, but the build has finally been finished recently. That seems like a long wait for someone investing in a project like this.
The amount of custom fabrication that has gone into creating this car is unimaginable. The team working on this project had to first build a custom jig to get the old body lifted off the 190E, and then chop the C63 AMG’s unibody chassis till the sheet metal could fit around it.
This also meant they had to shorten the wheelbase and chop off a few structural parts. The car also needed a 2×2 roll cage and a few other internal reinforcements. They even managed to fit the C63’s dashboard right, without too much effort.
A custom center console has been made; it includes the 7-speed automatic gearbox shifter and switches for the power window and lock systems, which can work through the C63 AMG’s key fob. There are also three-point belts, mounting points, and seat brackets.
The 6.2-liter V8 was an elephant of an engine, compared to the original four-cylinder engine found in the 190 E. Piper Motorsport had to change the placement of multiple oil coolers, re-fabricate the entire front fascia, and then modify the brake master cylinder and the AC condenser only to ensure everything fitted like a glove beneath the hood.
That wasn’t all. What was even tougher was the need to narrow the front suspension mounts by 20mm on both sides to be able to fit the old body correctly. The exhaust has bits and bobs from Borla and Modern Horsepower in it.
The passionate customer’s intention for this custom car was to give it the look of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evo ll. It’s always remembered for its massive wing at the back, and its aim to give the then BMW M3 a nightmare. So Piper Motorsport threw in a body kit and a wing to match the styling of the original icon.
The engine and suspension had to be taken out to get cracking on the paintwork. But the project seemed to have frozen for about a year during its build. However, this spring gave Piper Motorsport’s followers news – and very good news.
The Frankenstein Benz received a supercharger with a cooler mounted on the trunk, along with the C63 AMG’s underbody panels. It is, in every sense of the world, a brilliant turnout. Even the interior gets a beautiful all-black leather look, with the entire dashboard and everything that comes with it, from the C63 AMG.
The Frankenstein Benz flaunts its DTM styling perfectly, and those fifteen52 wheels look spot-on. There are no details revealed regarding specifications either, because we guess the owner wants to keep things low-profile for a bit. The team has done a great job in fusing the modern mechanicals of an AMG with the shell of an old classic.
Piper Motorsport
The styling makes it desirable, particularly the flared wheel arches that add character to an otherwise boxy car. Then the wheels that could mistake you for believing it’s ready to take on a track event, the huge wing at the back, which is likely to give today’s cars a bit of a scare.
This is a true-blue passion project – and we’re glad there are people around willing to experiment not only with the cars they like but with the kind of money they have to spend on them..CONTINUE READING>>