ICON Derelict Mercedes 300 SEL, MODIFIED with an LS9 SUPERCHARGED!!

Come along as we test drive our newest build from our Derelict series!
www.icon4x4.com
IG and Facebook: Icon 4x4
818-283-3333

[@Anaiya2022]

My pops worked for Lockheed Skunkworks for 35 years. He taught me how to wrench when I was a kid. Before he passed away last year, I showed him a couple of your videos. He was in awe, as am I, of the engineering that goes into these newfound masterpieces.

[@bhaggen]

My Pops also worked at Skunkworks under Ben Rich; he was great at teaching me math; but couldn't repair jack. Just imagine, all the data on the YF12 & SR71 was on huge reels of magnetic tape. I went on to be a gear-head/auto tech and I have to say, this is a terrible waste of an original 6.3 car when 3.0 and 4.5 cars are plentiful.

[@ninthcloud6331]

Dad - guy that boned your mom.

[@Jlinwoodjackson]

Talk about working in the king of shops! I have often dreamed about what it would be like to work in Burbank at the original Plant 42… before they moved out to Lancaster. It must have been amazing. Everything was done by hand, or with primitive NC ( numeric control) Pratt-Whitney horizontal milling machines. Not to mention the “hot” part ( when they were forging the Titanium rough parts)

[@Jlinwoodjackson]

Wait… did he say it has a Dana 60 in the rear!!!! Jesus! This thing is insanely bulletproof. The whole frame from Art Morrison.. then a blown and built LS9

[@rob.ny-la]

Lockheed Skunkworks huh? What secrets do you know?

[@every56days]

In 400 years, Icon one offs will be looked upon as we look upon the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel today. This is fine art, and all of us are lucky beyond words to get to enjoy it so easily. What an accomplishment.

[@dragosdorobantu7173]

I'm still recovering from the shock and awe... this is my first ICON video and I AM FLOORED! The curiosity is burning inside, to know just how much did this cost the owner? Love the calm and detailed narative and your leather jacket is on point! Bravo!

[@jimhackett113]

Jonathan, you genuinely have a gift for communicating your passion. I sit in awe of your presentational skills. Yeah, I'm a car nut, but your massively entertaining description of this project is the best example of delivering minute technical details in a way even someone who has never turned a wrench can appreciate. Bravo, sir.

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thank you kind sir ;-)

[@mchristr]

Fresh out of the Air Force in 1980, I landed a job at a Mercedes-only repair shop in California. My first job was putting a transmission and rear brakes under the boss's 6.3. The subsequent road test yielded triple-digit speeds on the old Embarcadero freeway. I absolutely love what you've done with this. The only caveat is that I wish you'd started with a 6-cylinder car.

[@planeben]

Pleasure listening to someone who can actually talk with flow and no distractors in their speech. Counted only three uhms in almost forty minutes. Well done. Oh, and the car is awesome to. Love all of Icon's work.

[@timmatheny-lo9ze]

Do it as if your going to keep it. That gives such freedom to create a product of amazing design. Jonathan, thank you for letting us into your world of form follows function.

[@literallyshaking8019]

The quality of engineering and craftsmanship in that era of Mercedes can’t be understated. They truly were a bank vault on 4 wheels.

[@colnuttall9035]

Johnathon, this W109 Mercedes Benz Icon Derelict is superlative, so well done. A vehicle like this would be a joy to own and use. The design, thoughtfulness and execution is beyond reproach. Great tool roll too ! Unfortunately it’s beyond my means, but that doesn’t stop me appreciating its beauty. Love what you do and the clever ways you go about that. Australia

[@rustynail2205]

I honestly feel like we are watching Dr/Professor Ward presenting another Icon magnum opus. On the outside we have the classic Mercedes lines, and below the surface we have a rowdy beast. I’ve been waiting for this video from the day this project first was mentioned. The fact that the car arrived already lowered on defunct shocks was an omen of what was to come. Congratulations to the entire Icon crew, their design partners, and the owners of this amazing ride. Mr/Dr/Prof Ward😉 this isn’t just a home run, it’s a grand slam walk off in the World Series. Love to see this in person one day, for the full sensory overload, but until then this video will have to suffice. 👏👏👏

[@edjackson4389]

There isn't a single new car available that I would rather have as a daily driver over this particular Mercedes. Love it!

[@Mercmad]

W109's had air suspension .It wasn't lowered,it's air springs were deflated.Lots of W109's were scrapped because the costs of repairs to the air suspension was unaffordable.

[@rustynail2205]

@@Mercmad I didn’t know it was air springs like some old caddies.

[@armcchargues8623]

I cannot come up with words to express how unbelievable the engineering and the attention to every minute detail is handled on this car. My mind is permanently blown. I wish I could work in a shop directed by such an inspired mad man.

[@LordHolley]

OMG, I haven't even started watching the video and I am shaking with excitement.....

[@austinado16]

Fantastic build...beyond fantastic. I'm a huge vintage MBZ fan, have owned a '66 250SE Coupe for 30yrs, and absolutely applaud what you did here. Thumbs up to the client who wanted this created!!

[@jasondurden2803]

This is an amazing car, what a project. As a Benz fan it doesn't sit well doing it to a 6.3 litre 300 SEL, there are plenty of W109 6 cylinders out there and 4.5 V8s, so to my mind it's like taking a 67 fastback GT500 Shelby Mustang and using that as a project base. That said its undeniably one amazing project. Bravo.

[@ironhorse7601]

agree.

[@Barledon]

Gentlemens, can you assure that your react about the 6.3SEL choice would be the same if the brand new engine had been a 630hp M159 AMG ?

[@lithiumfore7233]

My issue with the project as well. Love the result but we lost a 6.3 when we didn't have to!

[@jamesrecknor6752]

TRUE @@lithiumfore7233

[@AppleJack76]

My dad was a Mercedes mechanic for 40 years. He and his German cronies would race their 6.3's at the drag strip back in the 70"s in SoCal.

[@braxtonnelson7422]

I love these ICON "presentations"! Jonathan is like a modern day Bugatti in that each of his creations is "one man's vision" of how it should be done, and the results speak for themselves. The devil is in the details (as they say), and Jonathan sweats the details like no one else. Any ICON vehicle is a work of art, and you could spend hours just staring at it and discovering new items and treatments for the entire time. So glad he takes us along on these well-crafted videos... also love it when he shows up at Jay Leno's garage!

[@Redmenace96]

"modern day [Ettore] Bugatti" right? Great comment!

[@FuManchu5ltr]

These are the kind of Icon cars I like the most. They may not be as profitable, however the design expertise required to do this work is what defines the Icon brand… (IMO).

[@kernancoleman702]

My father had a battleship gray 6.3 with a lipstick red interior. That car and the history behind it looms large in my car universe. If there's an afterlife, Waxenberger, Ulenhaut and my Dad are cheering right now. What a glorious project. Kudos to you and the person with way more money than sense that commissioned. Pure awesome.

[@user-jf8gd3lv7q]

What Rudolf Uhlenhaut did at Mercedes-Benz is beyond your knowledge and imagination, dude! Don't take his name, to "justifying" such disgusting US tuner crimes on a German classic car from Mercedes-Benz, you clown! Putting a fucking dumb "LS9" engine in a classic Mercedes-Benz is more than just sacrilege, dude! You are pure DUMB, that's all! Greetings from Stuttgart, Germany

[@daneracamosa]

I noticed the video was 2 months old and surprised I missed it when it came out. Of all the derelicts you've done this is extraordinary. undoubtedly The Best of the Best

[@michaelodowd4347]

Thank You for so generously allowing us into your amazing world of Engineering Artwork. A Caravaggio of the Industrial Revolution for sure.

[@secretagentbloke]

The 300SEL 6.3 is one of my dream cars, and personally I wouldn’t modify it like this, but you can’t say the workmanship and quality of this is nothing else but impeccable. Just hope the owner has a healthy tyre budget!

[@christiansanden8005]

Agree, there should kept the original engine, otherwise a amazing job and nice there kept the original design of the dash and the whole car! Fantastic

[@makoshark69x96]

ARE THEY REPLACING A 6.3 ENGINE OR IS THIS A REGULAR 300 SEL ? OR A 280 ?

[@OvertravelX]

You’ve gone and made my dream car.

[@stevemonkey6666]

Yes. I want this car so badly I can taste it. Oh to be a millionaire.....😭

[@Visionery1]

Jonathan, you're a regular magician who does fantastic work.

[@mjo326]

LS9 was the perfect engine for this beauty.

[@Mega6981]

What a mind blowing build. The effort and commitment, the enhancement, the respect for the original design and engineering has left me speechless. Greetings from Denmark.

[@williamforsyth-ye4rc]

Excellent! The whole icon derelict concept/aesthetic really floats my Automotive/Car-Nerd boat And when that "boat comes in" I'll be booking my flights to LA to immerse myself in such a project....

[@ianmuir3640]

It’s just a beautiful piece of machinery inside and out

[@richardbrowne3641]

I think you should show that car to Mercedes Benz! That is alot of improvements and I love it! Beautiful project, Johnathan! Chip Fooze would be jelous! I think it will win some awards at SEMA!

[@brianhuggins7951]

When I first saw this car, I had to do a double take because the patina on the body didn't jump out at me at the first glance. Your work on these vehicles is extraordinary. I can only imagine the look on a person's face driving a sports/muscle car seeing this Mercedes "sleeper" blow their doors off at a stop light. Kudos to you and you marvelous staff for all of the wonderful product that you build. Keep it up!!

[@gotham61]

Do you really think that the folks at Mercedes Benz are going to appreciate someone who ripped out the glorious 6.3 liter M-100 V8 engine and replaced it with a Chevy?

[@richardbrowne3641]

@@gotham61 Who knows? Maybe they might learn something new!

[@gotham61]

@@richardbrowne3641 Surely, you're joking.

[@richardcarr6493]

YOU GOTTA BRING THIS ONE BY JAY LENO HE LL LOVE IT !! OMG the level you create these works of art WOW you leave no stone unturned when designing and building anything JUST SIMPLY AMAZING, WE LOVE IT ALL

[@stanzhubrak818]

Jay was a MBZ tech and he stopped me when I had my 71 280SL to chat he would love it

[@postont]

AMAZING Craftsmanship on this Restomod Benz!

[@966396631]

Holy Toledo!!! Massive imagination, 😮engineering, and love of the art! Congratulations!!!!!

[@deahelkcunklaer2180]

Best GM engine ever. Amazing build all around. Attention to interior detail is just outstanding.

[@deanstoops26]

I love it. I could not possibly achieve this level in my little hobby shop but you inspire me to do my very best to pay attention to details and strive for excellence as I build my own "hobby car"! Thank you!

[@rodasrodas]

Always believed that you were born to upgrade a old Mercedes. This is it. wonderful, wonderful

[@faschwank]

Most MB drivers I see on the road drive like they have died behind the wheel. I don't think they have any clue as to what a Mercedes-Benz is for. Awesome concept you have, beautifully executed. Bravolingus!

[@Roath33]

Wow! Impressive work and kudos to the client for selecting such an interesting car. I always want to know who commissions a project of this magnitude. 5,000 hours of labor was mentioned. If the labor rate was charitable at $150 per hour you are looking at $750k in labor + at least 750k in parts…after a few brainstorming sessions you can land on a cool 1.5 million dollar budget. Then again, budget must be loosely defined in this space 😊

[@jpkatz1435]

Love to see the spreadsheet total.

[@conservativeokie]

Absolutely unfathomable amounts of time, engineering, fabrication, attention to detail and professional skill throughout! What can be said? W O W ! ! ! Freakin’ amazing Jonathan!

[@londonman8688]

and money ..

[@jinglingbabygarage7030]

@@londonman8688 Yes, exactly

[@pandaslayer]

the engineering and design in all of Icon's cars is incredible. Now to just win the lottery.

[@xDrGeek]

Amazing.. I love the old Mercs. My grandfather had a ton, I had a 380SL and miss it everyday. One day hope to do something similar.

[@simondunstall3520]

Beautiful job man, as a 1967 250s owner I drooled over this build absolutely stunning well done

[@toddfehlhaber7522]

Amazing work my friend, you and your staff are truly pioneers in this industry and have my utmost respect!

[@zekelucente9702]

My uncle in the 70’s had a 600 SEL and it was a beast back then.

[@divyajnana]

" ...netting that won't look like blown-out underwear in a couple of years." Great line.

[@byrongardiner3109]

I absolutely lusted after the 6.3 in my early twenties. I appreciate what you have done here. A masterwerk. (spelling, intentional)

[@TheOneAboveAll-001]

Awesome as always what else is there to say, thank you for taking us on this journey it is been enlightening as well as inspiring.

[@hoppygoodness]

Always appreciate your kind parting words at the end of your videos. Thank you.

[@Paradigm1976]

In-freakin'-credible. Another OCD-fest of creativity and solid engineering. Thanks, Jonathan.

[@adnanlatif1722]

Jonathan once again you have nailed it what a flawless work & achievement honestly I am screaming waited for this video 4 a long time the way you have explained in detail not many builders can do well done.

[@makoshark69x96]

THE SMOKEY BURN-OUT PLUS THE THROATY BLAST INTO THAT TUNNEL.... YOU ARE BUILDING SOME LEGENDARY ICONS ! AMG HAS NOTHING ON YOU !

[@CurtiMado]

Congrats Icon Team for completing another very special project. As a car fan, these projects are such a treat. PS, Arman is an absolute hero.

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thanks MC!

[@icenijohn2]

I had a W108 280SEL, and I liked making subtle tweaks that improved its functionality in a way that Uhlenhaut et al would have approved! The Gott-awful squeeze-bulb screen washer was replaced by a Bosch electric pump that was triggered by a microswitch under the original bulb, so it looked original but worked... The electric window mechanisms were Scheiss, so I rebuilt them using bicycle chain and derailleur pulleys (inspired by pre-war RRs), but keeping the original motors and spring lifters, so I had the world's only W108 with reliable windows. Fun! This channel reminds me of Allen Millyard's channel about his inspired motorbikes: a Viper-powered single-speed road bike that would do over 200 MPH on a half throttle, a 5-liter V-twin using two cylinders from an old aircraft radial, V8 and V12 Kawasakis that looked like factory stock, and many more.

[@samdavinchi1624]

Perfect, just perfect. I very much believe that when a classic is being restored it should be remodernized as well.. I believe when people outside are enjoying to look at an old classic I should enjoy driving the comfort and performance of a modern car, so both people inside and outside are happy..👌

[@hungryalien]

what an amazing build. all the details inside and out! just stunning! congrats team icon on a job well done!

[@hagestad]

End product is really nice but i fail to understand why was there a need for the original car to be cut up. In the end almost everything was changed.

[@Emily1963eh]

@@hagestad Simple, to fit the chassis underneath. There is no way a stock car was going to deal with all that power. It would just tear itself apart. Have a look at Project Binky, the mini with a turbo AWD system in it, same thing, very little of the underneath of the car left.

[@hagestad]

@@Emily1963eh are you joking? there are companies in germany doing exactly that. this old chassis is probably stronger than corvette that this engine was design for. The icon approach basically changed entire car - that is why im saying its pointless to start with genuine mercedes in the first place apart from probably legal perspective.

[@carvermorris9429]

Been waiting to see this one. .... I expect awesome design like the Rolls.

[@josephmurphy2446]

It was great to meet you at the SEMASHOW after the Ev forum. Icon derelict my favorite cars on the planet. Thanks for continuing to share them with us. This car is amazing!!

[@justsomeguy1141]

The interior work on this car is absolutely insane

[@blackadder5469]

Real dreamcar

[@edwardfletcher7790]

This is a really, really great car. I love that the LS9 fits behind the front wheel line👍🏻 Bonus points for filming in the Back to the Future tunnel 😁 Your audio is really messed up in a few places. As always... SIGH

[@robertmacabagdal9585]

This is one of the most beautiful and spectacular automobile to come ICON ❤

[@dennispeery5166]

Above and beyond with this one. I can smell that interior from here.

[@gotham61]

A few errors in the intro. W109s were made from 1966. The 6.3 version came out in 68. Erich Waxenberger built a personal car using an M-100 engine in a W112 300SE coupe chassis. Perhaps the biggest error is the claim that the 6.3 was only sold in North America. That's nonsense. The 6.3 was sold worldwide from day one. Of the 6,526 built, only 1,839 were sold in the USA. The biggest single market was Germany. A large number of right hand drive 6.3s were also built for countries like the UK, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. The easiest way to tell a North American market car from the rest of the world, is the rear license plate lighting setup. Non North America cars used a single light set into the top of the rear bumper, rather than two lights flanking the plate in the bodywork. The thing about having all four lights on when using the high beams is just the standard US four lamp headlight setup at the time. There was a 5006 dual filament sealed beam in the upper position for both high and low beam, and a 5001 single filament sealed beam in the lower position as a supplemental high beam. All four lights are on when the high beams are selected. Radio options varied by country. The Becker Mexico cassette wasn't available until 1971, towards the tail end of production. Most US cars were fitted with a four band Becker Grand Prix with self seek automatic tuning. The wood choice depended on the interior color. Blue interiors had a straight grained French Walnut. Other interior colors had either Macassar Ebony like this car, or Walnut Burl. Contrary to many comments here, Zebrano wood was never used in a 6.3. Things like AC and rear reading lights were standard on US cars, but often optional in other countries. The only options in the US were a sunroof, fitted luggage, and a rear window defroster. Velour seating was a no cost option. Things like picnic tables or rear curtains were strictly custom special order items.

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thank you for the education and clarification. There’s a lot of miss information on the web apparently

[@gotham61]

@@ICON4x4Design I guess the tough question I have, is that if you're going to destroy one of these cars, why why WHY did it have to be a rust free 6.3? We estimate that there are now fewer than 200 drivable and registered 6.3s left on the planet, make that 199 after this project. You tossed out all of the parts that make a W109 and a 6.3 unique, M100 engine, air suspension etc, so you could have just as easily started with a W108, and created exactly the same car.

[@ICON4x4Design]

@@gotham61 for each is own my friend

[@gotham61]

@@ICON4x4Design That doesn't answer the question. You could also buy a Stradivarius violin and then smash it with a hammer. That doesn't make it right.

[@wernerdeckers483]

Really? In Europe, good restorable 6.3s are very hard to find because of rust issues. So, cutting up a very solid 6.3 to put a chassis(!) underneath it should be illegal. Installing a GM engine instead of the sublime M100 and replacing the super engineerd airsuspension by a coil setup...I guess it's an American thing. This I know : for the money and effort spent here, an original 6.3 with mild power increase could have been build, and on top of that, it could runs circles around this hybrid. I normally like the Icon Derilicts and have been watching the channel for years but this one is a sacriledge to Waxenbergers masterpiece. I'm afraid the owner will grow tired of it very quickly, as has happened with the Derilict Rolls.

[@HB-dh1ye]

Yes Really. They are rare because they only made 6,500 units. On what planet will a 60 to 70 year old 6.3 with a mild power increase “run circles around” a supercharged LS9? - there is not a single spec that supports this claim. All nonsense including the spelling of derelict….

[@michaelorlando6159]

I agree with you .sacrilege ! Being so rare that should not done especially on a clean rust free car makes no sense lets cut of the floors a on a perfect car and make a mew chassis. There are plenty of rust y 108 cylinder models that he could have done the same thing an i would have applauded him. But but the car was spectacular impressive build masterpiece but iregret chopping a clean car

[@derektrotter4287]

Go to Africa the dictators love them 😂😂

[@David-uu1oj]

I've owned 230s and a 280 and yes they, and this 300 are very nice cars, but what was done here compliments the original car with modern technology and performance. The same is true for a house. The new owner gets to start with a new slate and the care and expense that went into this build to keep the details of its originality should be commended! This car was rescued from becoming three tin can imports.

[@robinthered514]

Awesome marriage of art and craft. Stunning wheels, but being polished projects Chicano vibes. Your leather coat is the exact right apparel for this presentation.

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thanks! I made the jacket myself!

[@thegovernmentshill]

I live in sarasota, FL. My 3 sons and I have been fans of ICON since the we site was ICONTLC focusing mainly on toyota landcruisers. Anyway, we recently saw a derelict live, in the flesh! I had to stop the owner and get a photo of my boys in front of it. It was the blue 50’s convertible buick with chocolate top. Anyway the owner was shocked that I knew everything about his car. Hahah It was my first (and only) time seeing one in person and I cant explain how impressive it was. As most of us on this channel, i tell myself “SOME DAY…..” and until then ill keep restoring our cars to the highest level of detail that my wallet will allow.

[@lorencstefa3424]

I'm a big Mercedes fan and it's kind of crazy what you've done with this iconic Benz, but God I love it, with all the details and craftsmanship. Thank you, God bless you and...I'd love to have one. Take care!

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thank you!

[@mndlessdrwer]

I think I will always find that particular generation of Mercedes sedans inherently charming. It's nice to see that someone else loved theirs enough to give it a new lease on life with a rather robust engine swap. I do hope that someone comes to you sometime to get a fully restomodded one of these so you can make it as sleek and glamorous as the car really deserves to be. I think it would look fabulous in Ford's Tuxedo Black with the crushed glass in the paint instead of a common metal flake. It really makes for a shimmering effect instead of the hard metallic shine. Match it with a wine red interior for maximum mob boss vibes. I love the ultra-clean interior designs that you opted for. I really like the impact you get from having subwoofers, but I always find it such a shame to consume that much trunk space for the boxes that most people use, so seeing you integrate everything so neatly and hide away the electronics with a false rear firewall is really a nice touch. The trunk on those cars is ludicrously large anyway, so it's difficult to notice at a glance that you've cleverly stolen four or so inches of it for that purpose. The Focal K2 are a nice speaker, particularly when you give them a small sub crossed a bit high to supplement their low end so it balances better with the treble. Focal speakers tend to have very bright treble and need the extra bass to match it properly. I really hope you get another one of these in where they want to build a concourse class car instead of a sleeper, because the work you do is impeccable and deserves to be noticed at a glance.

[@hectorherbert6585]

another dream build ,a marvel...this LS9 is a monster..i actually drove an LS9 swapped SS with a 6 speed manual and man was it a dream to drive compared to the stock auto from the Vette..going through those gears with that kind of torque was fabulous...the metal details & lines on this chassis is a work of art..really..!!

[@prakashnarismulu3332]

Fascinating presentation of a re imagined old school luxury car that was designed to be fast and furious. Amazing craftsmanship 😊

[@jimjardine4705]

tHE CONVERSION TO THE FRAMED CHASSIS IS GENIUS! i have often wondered how that type of conversion would go!!!!!!

[@AF-lv1ev]

I kept smiling and paid full attention throughout the entire video. I was in a good place afterwards. My brother has one. I'm going to forward this video to him. Simply AWESOME. KUDOS!

[@uwi2]

Perfect. My favorite Derelict so far. The best classic S Class ever.

[@bobothree]

Sincerely, please never apologize for Icon. What you do is amazing and the fantasy of many motorheads. If people want pristine OEM restorations there are other places to find them.

[@mikepoint4717]

Jonathan and his gang of guilds are GENIUSES . What a build !!

[@jamesrebbechi5247]

The most wonderfully captivating 39:05 minutes I have had this entire year. Deep respect fellas.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

Please don't ever let business concerns stop you from doing these one-off builds. They are masterpieces of engineering and craftsmanship.

[@Far2hip]

Quite frankly my friend, I am extremely happy that you chose to continue spending your efforts in your happy place. The fruits of your passion are absolutely brilliant and it’s no wonder that customers with the means continue to come to you for additional builds. The fact that the intention is to build these vehicles in such a way that they could literally be a daily driven car is a massive factor in their appeal. I hope someday soon I’ll be sporting one of your Derelict’s myself!! 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@CardizoneSemblance]

The KZbin algorithm gods have blessed me today. I have never heard of this channel but the quality of your work and video earned you my sub.

[@loucalouca]

Wow, an absolute masterpiece, I have a w108 280 Sel which I adore , slowly having it restored unfortunately on medium tight budget, if only I was rich enough to have attention to detail done ! A true inspiration guy’s!

[@anthonylehner3643]

Well I managed to suffer through this whole video right up until the end. Why do you do this to me ? I'm an absolute sucker for almost any Mercedes and for some reason it started when I was about 12 years old. I've owned several over the years the oldest being a 1970s model and still own a Mercedes to this day but I have always wanted a 6.3 but a 6.2 would probably work. Your project demonstrates fabulous execution and attention to all the finest details while keeping it looking so original and giving it the modern-day attention it deserves. My highest compliments to you and everybody who had any involvement with this project! I don't think you could have done it any better!

[@danielmaia3559]

So nice I’d love to have a SE convertible with ICON one day

[@danielstover3029]

Wow! What a beautiful wolf in sheep's clothing! Fabulous fabrication and workmanship... Thanks for sharing the details. 😁👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@doostar6875]

im a Mercedes nutcase, so the attention to detail/build quality to this car is absolutely mind boggling. What a visionary

[@jorn1409]

You really turned it up to 11 with this one Maestro...

[@michaelschneider-]

+1 ... The assembly of automotive talent. .. Gawd damn. . P.S., I caught the sleight of hand non-MB 6.2 badge.

[@MrJayrock620]

If anyone was going to carve up an original 6.3 SEL, I’m glad it was you Jonathan. I can only what this thing would be like on the autobahn now after you geeked out on it

[@Nam-id7kj]

Love this car! After I left aerospace, I went into the retail automotive business, eventually working for MBNA. Before going into the auto business, I bought a new 1972 280SEL 4.5 dark green, black interior with sunroof from Carwell Corp in Hermosa Beach, CA. Such a solid, wonderful, reliable motorcar. Being 6'4", the L gave rear seat passengers plenty of room. I enjoyed your video immensely & well documented verbalzation of the process. It's such a great area near Pepperdine U & Malibu Canyon Rd for your road performance. Thanks for the video of the gorgeous 300SEL 6.2 beast. Prost!

[@jonathanmcnabb9153]

This build will stand out at SEMA ..!!! AMAZING !!!

[@erichraudebaugh]

The engine, chassis and exhaust are just as sexy as this model of Mercedes. Great classic car, super build.

[@jdiluigi]

In reference to haters. Its your creation, passion, dream, design etc. If someone other than the customer is unhappy with your build direction. They can build one to their specifications.

[@blackrifle6736]

*Johnathan is loving some Malibu Canyon Road running. Up the hill on the right is Pepperdine University with HRL Laboratories just below. Sounds awesome going through the steel-lined Malibu tunnel.* *Doing the math: Assuming Jonathan and his subcontractors burdened hourly rate is $100/hr, which is not unreasonable at all; for ~5,000 hours labour this was a $500K endeavour. That does NOT include materials and hardware costs... The old racer's adage applies: "Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?" Cheers!*

[@mcspikesky]

Amazing. What you do to a vehicle is literally realise a dream.

[@fireplays_official]

Now I am a purist in classic cars but THIS? This I can appreciate, it's not a half-assed mod or a mod with an engine in that comes nowhere near the reliability of the car's original engine. (Like per example the all in black modified Ponton that's in england with a AMG C63 engine and interior) And it still looks stock, both in and outside. And that's what I can appreciate, it still feels like stock and looks like stock until you full throttle it.

[@rickbullock4331]

What a beauty. One can only imagine the engineering that went into building this Derelict Mercedes. The craftsmanship is mind boggling to say the least. The exhaust sound when you planted your foot was awesome. I’m sure your customer will enjoy this build too. 👍👍🇨🇦

[@dexterlockett4813]

Wow, this car turned out absolutely beautiful... A true sleeper, modernized while maintaining the heritage of the original classic Mercedes car... Such amazing craftsmanship and attention to detail!!! Amazing job!

[@brcron007]

Another Beautiful work of art ! My father had for years,, a 1974 280C w/electric sunroof, All white. That would have been a beautiful candidate for what you amazingly created.

[@willclark491]

I really enjoy these deep dives into your one-off creations. Your enthusiasm for these cars is really infective!

[@keithpeters8970]

Absolutely gorgeous and extremely sophisticated. Just wow.

[@infinion3]

hi jonathan, im 44 now but i used to drive this car, specifically 280sel, it was a 4.5l v8, sunroof dirty white with a black roof, AC, everythign worked, this was my uncles daily driver, in the 1995-2000s, literally i drove this car to pick up my cousins from school, drop off at gymnastics, etc, pick up. it was reliable, all stock. i think my uncle still has it, its mint, power everything. love your interpretation, very classy.

[@playwme3]

Sexy cars. Always wanted a 6.3. I remember as a kid one of dads mates had one sitting in the paddock. He literally lived in a shed, and kept his Harley in the bedroom, but there was this big v8 Merc just sitting there in the weeds.

[@nigellareturns2000]

I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. The enthusiasm in which you have for your cars is wonderful to hear. Thank you!