When it comes to luxury performance cars, Mercedes has had an illustrious history. From the granddaddy box-shaped 190E to the reincarnated sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W214). The Stuttgart-based automaker has entrenched its automotive ingenuity beyond function and culture. Its prevalence is so vast and cult-following so strong that there are tombstones dedicated to its novelty.
As the three-point star enthusiasts worldwide await an avalanche of new Mercedes models in 2023, a faction of its loyal following is still hung up on its 1980s and 90s models – and for a good reason.
Jonny Smith of the Late Brake Show YouTube channel got the chance to feature a private collection of niched retro Mercedes AMG and Brabus builds in Surrey, England, on their Car Caves series.
The classic performance cars owned by Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts and collector Neville are unlike anything you’ll see at your local car meet. They are a rare collection of niche-tuned 1980s and '90s Mercedes-Benzes (lesser-seen versions). What’s more. They are a stash of 20 cars neatly stored in four garages.
A peek into his garage, and you’ll discover a mother of all stashes of 80s and 90s AMG Brabus parts. According to Neville, he’s been collecting the components for 15 to 20 years. His stockpiling has enabled him to complete most of his builds. If you know anything about early model AMGs, the parts industry has dried to a drip.
The Aichi Prefecture city of Nagoya might be famous for automotive giant Toyota. However, thriving behind the backroads of the techno city since the late 90s is a Japanese Mercedes W124 tuner (emphasis on E60 conversions) known as Auto Fashion Factory Spirit.
“I started getting into the AMG Connection or all the Japanese tunning magazines, and these guys continually would surface to the top and inspire conversions because they would take conversions to a different limit,” Neville explained how he got hooked to Auto Fashion Factory Spirit.
Inspired by their precision in tunning classic Mercedes-Benzes, Neville developed two tribute cars honoring the Japan-based Mercedes-Benz tuner.
The first one was a 1995 Mercedes W124 (JDM-tuned) that, at first glance, looks like a 36T but is, in fact, a 320TE. It’s currently a work in progress. The interior has a rare E60 limited center console, fully adjustable Recaro seats, and a steering wheel.
He’s also fitted AMG wheels on the classic, complemented by AMG shocks and springs. Under the hood, it packs a 3.2-liter straight-six engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The final mod on this rare classic is a widebody kit.
Next on the line was a 1986 Mercedes 190E Cosworth with a Mosselman turbo conversion. Neville says this unit is rapid thanks to the massive turbocharger under the hood.
It has a charming interior (Houndstooth half leather) with a pair of Mercedes-spec Recaro classics on the front and back. It runs a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Next to the 1986 190E Cosworth was another bonkers 1991 190E. According to the owner, it was a conversion done by Bristol-based tuner Matty Charlesworth of Five Star Automotive. What makes this build so interesting, besides its glistening exterior, is what lies underneath the hood.
It packs a twin-turbo 2.6-liter engine. The conversion runs on a 4-speed automatic gearbox. It is complemented by an AMG aero wheel, suspension, body kit, and dial set steering wheel. As unique and fast as this car looks, Neville has only driven it once since it was completed.
For a Mercedes enthusiast, a unit in his Collection is rather odd. It’s an American muscle car, specifically a 1971 Pontiac Trans-Am with a shaker hood.
It’s not the kind of car you’d find in the British performance car scene, but according to Neville, it’s one of the cars that drew him into the world of fast cars. He calls it a ‘drama car’ because the only way it loves to be driven is flat out.
It packs a 455 H/O engine with a factory RPO M22 speed close-ratio manual gearbox. It’s a numbers-matching Cameo white car with gas-flowed heads done by Westlake.
Another fascinating retro Mercedes in his Collection with a history is a blacked-out 1985 500 SEL AMG. If you know anything about this car, you understand it’s a classic luxury car with much power underneath.
It came with a Motorola rear car phone (the first of its kind), had privacy curtains, and was fitted with factory hydraulic suspension. This 500 SEL AMG sedan had an AMG body kit, wood trim interior, and steering wheel for an aggressive demeanor.
For power, it runs an unmodified 5-liter V8 engine paired with an automatic gearbox.
On another garage, Neville has a collection of classic Brabus Mercedes units, including a 1991 190E 2.6, 1982 190E AMG widebody with a 2-liter Mosselman turbo conversion, and the gem of the Collection, a 1984 Mercedes 500 SEL with a Mosselman supercharger conversion.
Here’s an exciting bit. It’s an ex-Saudi Arabian embassy car belonging to HRH Prince Nawaf Abdulaziz.
We’d love to tell you more about this 20-car Collection. Instead, we’ll let you catch the rest of the walk-through in the video below. It’s a ‘must’ watch for classic Mercedes performance car enthusiasts.
Jonny Smith of the Late Brake Show YouTube channel got the chance to feature a private collection of niched retro Mercedes AMG and Brabus builds in Surrey, England, on their Car Caves series.
The classic performance cars owned by Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts and collector Neville are unlike anything you’ll see at your local car meet. They are a rare collection of niche-tuned 1980s and '90s Mercedes-Benzes (lesser-seen versions). What’s more. They are a stash of 20 cars neatly stored in four garages.
Neville has been collecting cars for around two decades
The Aichi Prefecture city of Nagoya might be famous for automotive giant Toyota. However, thriving behind the backroads of the techno city since the late 90s is a Japanese Mercedes W124 tuner (emphasis on E60 conversions) known as Auto Fashion Factory Spirit.
“I started getting into the AMG Connection or all the Japanese tunning magazines, and these guys continually would surface to the top and inspire conversions because they would take conversions to a different limit,” Neville explained how he got hooked to Auto Fashion Factory Spirit.
Inspired by their precision in tunning classic Mercedes-Benzes, Neville developed two tribute cars honoring the Japan-based Mercedes-Benz tuner.
JDM-tuned W124 is a rare bird
He’s also fitted AMG wheels on the classic, complemented by AMG shocks and springs. Under the hood, it packs a 3.2-liter straight-six engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The final mod on this rare classic is a widebody kit.
Next on the line was a 1986 Mercedes 190E Cosworth with a Mosselman turbo conversion. Neville says this unit is rapid thanks to the massive turbocharger under the hood.
It has a charming interior (Houndstooth half leather) with a pair of Mercedes-spec Recaro classics on the front and back. It runs a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Next to the 1986 190E Cosworth was another bonkers 1991 190E. According to the owner, it was a conversion done by Bristol-based tuner Matty Charlesworth of Five Star Automotive. What makes this build so interesting, besides its glistening exterior, is what lies underneath the hood.
It packs a twin-turbo 2.6-liter engine. The conversion runs on a 4-speed automatic gearbox. It is complemented by an AMG aero wheel, suspension, body kit, and dial set steering wheel. As unique and fast as this car looks, Neville has only driven it once since it was completed.
1971 Pontiac Trans-Am loves to be driven flat-out
It’s not the kind of car you’d find in the British performance car scene, but according to Neville, it’s one of the cars that drew him into the world of fast cars. He calls it a ‘drama car’ because the only way it loves to be driven is flat out.
It packs a 455 H/O engine with a factory RPO M22 speed close-ratio manual gearbox. It’s a numbers-matching Cameo white car with gas-flowed heads done by Westlake.
Ex-Saudi Arabian Embassy Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL AMG
It came with a Motorola rear car phone (the first of its kind), had privacy curtains, and was fitted with factory hydraulic suspension. This 500 SEL AMG sedan had an AMG body kit, wood trim interior, and steering wheel for an aggressive demeanor.
For power, it runs an unmodified 5-liter V8 engine paired with an automatic gearbox.
On another garage, Neville has a collection of classic Brabus Mercedes units, including a 1991 190E 2.6, 1982 190E AMG widebody with a 2-liter Mosselman turbo conversion, and the gem of the Collection, a 1984 Mercedes 500 SEL with a Mosselman supercharger conversion.
Here’s an exciting bit. It’s an ex-Saudi Arabian embassy car belonging to HRH Prince Nawaf Abdulaziz.
We’d love to tell you more about this 20-car Collection. Instead, we’ll let you catch the rest of the walk-through in the video below. It’s a ‘must’ watch for classic Mercedes performance car enthusiasts.