Think of car from the 1950s to use as the basis for an incredible custom machine, and a Mercedes-Benz is unlikely to be high on the list. 

But ignore the usual Mercury, Ford, or Chevrolet creations, as this 1952 170 S Sedan offers all the usual bespoke style, but with a distinctly German flavor.

It is also available to buy at the forthcoming Mecum Auctions 2019 Monterey sale, where it will line up alongside 600 other vehicles for three days of selling action. 

Mercedes-Benz first launched the 170 S in 1949, and is notable for being the first new model offered by the company following the end of World War II. 

Development was based upon the earlier W136 Mercedes, but the Stuttgart firm wanted to add some additional luxury. Enter the 170 S, aimed at attracting businessmen to take a seat in the upgraded interior.

Power came from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, offering 52 horsepower. More than 31,000 examples were produced until 1953, when the revised 170 Sb version appeared. 

Chopped and dropped

The classic proportions of the 170 S make it perfect for becoming a custom car, with Samson Design in Marshall, Missouri responsible for the transformation.

A thorough frame-off restoration was the starting point, before custom touches were added. A 2-inch chop to the roof, along with a 1-inch lean on the front grille, are just some of the subtle special tweaks.

Bespoke glass has been used for the front windshield and side windows, whilst the front fenders are handmade. Everything has been finished with modern Mercedes-Benz Mystic Brown paint.

Just 52 horsepower was never going to be enough for this custom car, so the original engine has been ditched. Instead there is a 455 horsepower 6.2-liter Chevrolet LS3 V-8 engine, hiding beneath a Mercedes-branded cover. 

A three-speed automatic transmission connects to a customized Chevrolet 10-bolt differential at the rear, with the driveshaft made from chromoly. 

Power disc brakes are fitted all round, whilst the suspension is an adjustable coilover setup. Bespoke Wheelsmith rims where Mercedes-Benz hubcaps, and come wrapped in Yokohama S Drive rubber.

What can brown do for you?

Inside is a makeover fitting for what was intended to be a luxury vehicle when it first left the production line. Hand-stitched mocha leather covers almost every surface, with even the pedals and headliner included. 

A custom dashboard fits onto a bespoke firewall to accommodate the LS3 engine, incorporating a Mercedes-Benz logo on the passenger side. 

Short-loop tan carpet finishes the rest of the cabin, and other neat touches include a hidden centre console compartment, plus satin metal trim.

The outstanding finish of this 170 S was recognized at the 2016 Detroit Autorama show, where it was a finalist for the Great 8 trophy. An appearance at the SEMA Show was also made in the same year.

An estimated sale price of $350,000 to $450,000 is testimony to the attention to detail paid to this Mercedes, and the exclusivity of a car which truly stands out from the custom crowd. 

Lot S83 will cross the Mecum Auctions block on Saturday August 17, along with a host of other rare and exotic offerings. 

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North American Porsche owners now have an easier way to reduce the environmental impact of driving their car.

The new ‘Porsche Impact’ online tool allows drivers to calculate their annual CO2 emissions, and then donate to projects designed to tackle climate change. 

Previously offered to customers in Germany, Poland, and the UK since 2018, Porsche Cars North America has taken steps to enrol its own Porsche Experience Center vehicles.

Customers simply need to know the average fuel economy of their Porsche, along with the estimated annual mileage they will cover.

The Porsche Impact calculator then generates a figure for expected total CO2 emissions for the year. A financial value is attached to this CO2 total, representing the amount of funding needed to offset the emissions and one of four climate projects. 

All four projects are internationally certified, and include hydro-electric power in Vietnam, solar power in Mexico, habitat preservation in Zimbabwe, and forest protection in the USA. 

Drivers simply make a one-off payment through partner South Pole, who manages the allocation of funding. Porsche makes no profit from the money spent. 

How much a driver pays is dependent on the Porsche they drive, and how frequently they use it. 

For instance, a Porsche 911 Turbo – with an average fuel economy of 21 mpg – would generate 2.09 tons of CO2 if driven 5,000 miles per year. Offsetting this would cost between $25.77 to $58.56 depending on the project picked. 

Whilst entirely optional Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA, believes that “offering an option for greater sustainability is part of creating a superb Porsche experience”.

Porsche will launch the all-electric Taycan later this year, which will offer buyers the chance to sidestep internal combustion engine emissions completely.

There’s no such thing as a bad new car, but not all vehicles are created equal. So while the days of unsafe, unreliable and rust-before-your-eyes cars are, for the most part, behind us, there are still some munters on the road. Here are 15 cars from the past decade that shouldn’t have made it to these shores.

Ford Ecosport

Deciding to launch the Ecosport with a tailgate-mounted spare wheel was a touch of genius, because it drew attention away from the hideous, ill-judged and slightly terrifying styling. In fairness, the spare wheel was arguably the most interesting part of the car, so the decision to remove it felt like a double-edged sword. In a world of top-hinged tailgates, the side-hinged rear door felt like a blast from the past. If you love exposed spare wheels, buy a Suzuki Jimny. If you want a small Ford, buy a Fiesta or wait for the new Puma.

Mitsubishi Mirage

Take a look at the driver’s face and ask yourself: is that the look of a lady who is enjoying the drive? Even in isolation, it’s hard to recommend the Mitsubishi Mirage, but when viewed in the context of other small cars, it’s hard to make a case for the bucket of misery. Imagine looking at the Volkswagen Up, Skoda Citigo, Seat Mii, Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 then opting to buy the Mirage.

Chevrolet Spark

“The Chevrolet Spark isn’t a car without merit,” said Autocar. If your child’s school report started with something similar, you’d know you were in for a pretty dire end-of-term assessment. Entry-level versions were as cheerful as an undertaker’s waiting room, while the wind, road and engine noise combined to make a racket that was as appealing as telephone hold music.

Chrysler Ypsilon

Such was Lancia’s monumental fall from grace in the UK, that when Fiat bought Chrysler, it thought the cosmetically challenged Ypsilon would sell better over here with a Chrysler badge. It didn’t. Fiat pulled the plug on Chrysler in the UK, signalling the end for the Ypsilon, although it still soldiers on in Italy, with FCA choosing to gloss over the horrendous Euro NCAP safety rating.

Fiat 500L

In an attempt to leverage some kudos from the hugely popular 500 supermini, Fiat created the 500L. The idea had merit: rather than risk losing loyal 500 customers to rival brands, simply create a bigger version for them to jump straight into. There was only one problem: the 500L is to the 500 what Margaret Beckett is to the Duchess of Cambridge. Fiat 500 customers retreated to the sanctuary of Audi, leaving the 500L to become the car you dread signing for at the holiday rental desk.

Fiat 500L MPW

Not content with sullying the 500 badge with the 500L, Fiat proceeded to create the 500L MPW, which allowed up to seven people to die of embarrassment on the roads of Britain. To think, Fiat could have leveraged the Panda brand to create the Giant Panda and the Giant Panda XL. The missed opportunity of the decade?

Mini Coupe

Search for the Mini Coupe on Google and you’re asked: “Did you mean Mini Cooper?” Well, quite.

Vauxhall Mokka

Launched in 2013, the Vauxhall Mokka was sold alongside the almost identical Chevrolet Trax. But while the Chevy had the good grace to disappear, the Mokka continued to haunt our everyday lives, with Vauxhall having the audacity to add an ‘X’ to its name following a facelift. It sells in big numbers, which is one of the greatest mysteries of the past decade. God bless PCP deals, rental cars and the Motability scheme.

Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG

In fairness to the this particular Mercedes, we could have selected any number of premium compact SUVs, but the GLA stands out like a guilt-ridden criminal in a police line-up. Sure, styling is subjective, but the GLA’s A-Class-on-stilts styling leaves a lot to be desired, and it’s difficult to understand why you’d choose this over the standard hatchback. The GLA 45 AMG might be blisteringly quick, but at £45k, you’d expect it to be.

Jeep Wrangler

We’ve seen a fair number of disappointing (read: terrifying) Euro NCAP results over recent years. But while the ageing Fiat Panda and Punto can – to a certain extent – be forgiven for their poor performance, the brand new Jeep Wrangler’s one-star rating is more damning. “It is high time we saw a product from the Fiat-Chrysler group offering safety to rival its competitors,” said Euro NCAP. Ouch.

Range Rover Evoque Convertible

We readily admit that the Range Rover Evoque Convertible is here for irrational reasons. In the same way you might dislike BMW X5s with ‘X5’ number plates, or headlight eyelashes, or Lexus-style rear lights, there’s just something wrong about the topless Evoque. On the plus side, it’s not the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

If the internet is to be believed – and who wouldn’t believe the internet? – the Mercedes-Benz X-Class is facing the axe. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the pick-up, but we expect more from Stuttgart. Slapping a Mercedes badge on a Nissan, adding some luxury chintz and charging an exuberant fee wasn’t going to fool today’s well-educated buyers. Fiat tried something similar with the L200-based Fullback. It failed. There’s a theme developing here.

Ford Edge

The Ford Edge has “all the appeal of a Florida holiday rental car”. Not our words, but the words of the excellent and engaging Mark Nichol on the Honest John YouTube channel. Like and subscribe, etc, etc. It’s worth watching, because Mark makes some very good – and often amusing – points. Quite simply, if you want a big Ford, buy an S-Max.

Aston Martin Cygnet

Our very own master of words, Tim Pitt, said the Cygnet is a “good car, but not a very good Aston Martin”. In fairness to Aston Martin, the Cygnet is more than just a Toyota iQ with a few posh badges. But it wasn’t worth the £30,000 price tag, which was close to three times the cost of the clever iQ. One of the more bizarre cars of the decade.

Nissan Pulsar

Speaking of bizarre. In 2006, Nissan turned its back on the family hatchback market, deciding to venture into the unknown with the Qashqai crossover. The gamble paid off, with the Qashqai becoming the nation’s favourite crossover and the inspiration for countless imitations. And yet, Nissan couldn’t resist retracing its old steps by launching the forgettable Pulsar in 2014. Fans of cars with a huge amount of rear legroom rejoiced, while the rest of us simply uttered “meh”.

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