Depending on who you talk to, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL may not come up when it comes to the hottest and sexiest Mercs of all time. But the W109 has its advantages, especially those sold with a V8 engine. Most notable of these was the Red Pig, which catapulted the then-young AMG brand into motorsport overnight.
If you want one, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Red Pig on sale, although Mercedes introduced a one-off AMG model inspired by the Red Pig last year to celebrate the model. However, Icon 4×4 (or simply Icon) has introduced a 300 SEL build that might tickle your fancy – the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL Derelict.
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This Los Angeles-based tuner builds on the classy styling of the 300 SEL, restoring and modifying it for the modern day. The interior receives upgraded materials inspired by the original used by Mercedes-Benz, while the wood trim is restored. The center console is remade but OEM inspired, while the gauges are still original but with updated internals and a custom look by Redline Gauges. Even the original stereo, though, was modified to hide an audio unit with Bluetooth controls, four Focal 2-way speakers, dual subwoofers, and an amplifier.
On the outside, the Icon keeps things original and unaltered, featuring an aged patina exterior paint, stainless, and chrome finish. The one-piece billet aluminum wheels are done by EVOD while also sporting an aged patina look.
Icon is working to restore the mechanics of this classic full-size sedan. It comes with a full Art Morrison frame, four-wheel adjustable coil-over with independent rear suspension, tubular control arms, Art Morrison Dana 60 IRS differential, and custom 304 stainless tig welded dual exhausts with headers handcrafted by Deeds Performance.
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The most surprising part of the build is the use of GM’s LS9 engine for the Icon Derelict power plant. The power rating was not disclosed in the press release but the supercharged 6.2L LS9 V8 in the C6 Corvette ZR1 produces 638 horsepower (476 kilowatts) and 604 pound-feet (819 Newton-meters) of torque. This is coupled to the handcrafted 4L85-E automatic transmission, which was originally used for trucks and SUVs.
Icon debuted the Derelict 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL build at the 2022 SEMA Show taking place this week. It is available on a special commission basis, with prices starting at $450,000.
