Here at BangShift, we love all sorts of vehicles and just-crazy-enough-to-work ideas. Variety is the spice of life, and what keeps the automotive hobby fresh is enthusiasts that are willing to try something new, often “just because”.
Take Scott Huyghe’s AMX/GTO for example: Classic styling with a modern suspension and drivetrain. (CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL FEATURE ON IT) Quality craftsmanship and just enough of a modern touch make this a great example of a resto-mod done right.
Even if you don’t like the GM LS engine (You know who you are), at least the AMX/GTO keeps a Domestic all Domestic, so no harm no foul, right? Well, technically it’s Domestic – “Corporate GM with an Aussie flavor”, but you get the point.
Today’s eBay find is also a resto-mod, in this case a 1955 Chevy 3100 pickup.
The thing is, it’s a bit different than your typical resto-mod in that it’s a bit more foreign.
“Like a rock”, eh?
While a typical resto-mod takes bits and pieces from a modern donor car, what we have here is closer to a 2001 Mercedes ML320 SUV in a ’55 Chevy 3100 Halloween costume. We’re talking full drivetrain, including the AWD system, suspension, and what looks to be the bulk of the interior.
I’ll let the eBay ad provide the rest of the nitty-gritty details, but I want to know what you guys think about this truck. While it’s a bit of a slap in the face to purists and the “Keep your American vehicle all American” contingent, and admittedly the ~210 horsepower donor V6 isn’t going to win many stoplight to stoplight races, I’m digging the work that went into this build, from the custom hood to the fit and finish of it all. I personally would have kept the interior looking more period correct, but with the miles and miles of wiring (Or would that be kilometers?) needed to get the Benz up and running, I understand why it would be easier to just swap in the entire dash and interior.
What do you guys and gals think? BangShift approved or not?
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL EBAY AD!
I’m with you on preferring a more period correct interior, but the way they managed to get the Mercedes interior into the truck and make it look like a factory installation is absolutely jaw dropping.
The motor is a bit of an odd choice – why not a turbodiesel if you’re going Mercedes? – but I considered a couple motor swaps for my ’72 Chevy that were probably equally weird. And it’s a reasonable choice if the truck is going to be used as a cruiser. I like it.
I don’t much care what it is underneath it all . That .. is one mighty fine looking P/U Resto Mod .
Next up though no doubt will be the phalanx of Euro Haters on the site whining about the fact that it is a Mercedes underneath .
I’m forced to agree. I foresee a bunch of butthurt GM fanboys in the near future. It’s definitely nice to see something other than a LS swap for once….
Not really my style but i can appreciate all the work that went into this
Pretty nice job. Even better was that Buick that Troy built with the Mercedes G-series running gear.
That El Camino rear bumper looks perfect on there, narrowed for sure but perfect.
Not my first choice for a drivetrain but very well executed. A lot of work and even more for the thought process needed to bring this to life. I’d Bang S It for sure.
Nice work but I bet it sounds lame.
Its a pretty neat idea. can only imagine the look on a mercedes tech’s face when it rolls up for a service.
not a fan of the rims personally, but I’d rock that thing.
I want to hate it, but for reason I like it. Alot. Paint it all silver and put some OE, Mercedes, wheels and I’d rock it in a heart beat.
beautiful workmanship, no doubt. I don’t like the wheels at all but that’s personal choice – to my mind they totally do not suit …not a huge fan of how the silver on the side droops down to the front wheel but again, owner’s choice. certainly cannot dispute the quality of that paint. My only comment re the running gear is, if you were going to so much trouble to transplant M/B running gear, why not go for one of their V8’s? Nice AMG bit of kit in there…still going to be around the same amount of work…but end of the day I totally love how much work and the quality that has gone into it.
Amazing technology – Beautiful finish – Questionable stance