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Insane: This Mercedes 600 Restomod Packs Modern S-Class Technology
Beneath the stunning 1971 sheet metal is a 2024 AMG S63 E-Performance. But not everyone is in love with this restomod.
Photo by: S-Klub LA
By: Roland Hildebrandt
Translated by: Jeff Perez
Feb 11, at 2:32pm ET
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the breakdown
- A 1971 Mercedes 600 body sits on a 2024 AMG S63 hybrid platform with 800+ hp and full modern tech.
- It features carbon accents, LED retrofits, and a huge rear wing make it anything but subtle.
- Widened bodywork, carbon accents, LED headlight conversions, and a prominent rear wing.
Purists, you might want to brace yourselves. Take a deep breath. What California tuning shop S-Klub LA has unleashed here is, to some, the ultimate restomod fantasy. To others, it might be grounds for adding a new clause to the Geneva Convention.
Meet the appropriately named "Final Boss"—a thoroughly reworked Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100). Yes, that Mercedes 600—the dictator limo, Elvis's car, the Pope’s ride. Now it’s been retrofitted with the complete hardware of a brand-new 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance. And it looks properly bonkers.
The Transplant: W100 Meets W223
Most restomod builders take a classic body, slip in a modern V8, and call it a day. S-Klub LA—already known for divisive builds like a 300 SL riding on Tesla Model 3 underpinnings—went even further. Founder Ed Sarkisyan bought a factory-fresh S63 (with a sticker price north of $200,000), drove it just over 4,000 miles, and then reached for the scalpel.
Why? Because the wheelbase of the short-wheelbase W100 and today’s long-wheelbase S-Class (V223) is almost identical. Instead of trying to cram modern components into a 1970s chassis, the team performed a full chassis swap. The weathered shell of a 1971 600—a Texas barn find that had been rotting away for a decade—was painstakingly restored and then dropped onto the ultra-modern S63 platform.
The result is technically outrageous. It retains the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 and electric motor, producing more than 800 horsepower and over 1,055 pound-feet of torque. The suspension, brakes, and—astonishingly—the entire electronics suite were transplanted as well, including MBUX, massaging seats, and the full array of driver-assistance systems. Open the door, and instead of 1970s wood-trimmed opulence, you’re greeted by a fully digital, contemporary cockpit tucked inside the classic car’s comparatively tight cabin.
The Design: Somewhere Between Genius & Madness
Photo by: S-Klub LA
Visually, the "Final Boss" isn’t exactly subtle. The body has been widened to accommodate the AMG’s massive track width. One standout detail for the tech crowd: the headlights. The original W100 housings were 3D-scanned, digitized, and re-engineered to house the S63’s modern LED units—along with functional air intakes. The car is finished in a deep green, complemented by tinted exposed carbon fiber on the roof, mirrors, and aerodynamic add-ons.
But where there’s admiration, there’s backlash—especially online. While many praise the craftsmanship and engineering as "next level" and "rolling artwork," the rear end in particular has triggered serious pearl-clutching.
The Internet Reacts: "The Spoiler Has To Go"
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Source: S-Klub LA
A scroll through the YouTube comments tells the story. Viewers are split between respect for the execution and disbelief at the styling decisions. The main targets: a massive fixed JDM-style rear wing and an oversized Mercedes emblem planted in the center of the grille.
User @thewedge8823 captured the general mood: “Get rid of the rear spoiler and the emblem in the middle of the grille, and it would be clean.” The wing, especially, draws relentless criticism. “The rear spoiler is absolutely hideous,” writes @gunnshell, while @indybob770 is even more blunt: “The wing does not fit the build at all.”
There are more measured takes, too. A retired mechanical engineer (@robertmoss9468) applauded the boldness of the concept but said he would have approached some of the solutions differently. Others compared the look to “small-town homebrew tuning” or called it a "wannabe Bentley."
Conclusion: Bold Vision, Divisive Outcome
S-Kllub LA set out to make a statement for SEMA 2025—and that’s exactly what they did. From a technical standpoint, merging 1971 sheet metal with 2024 high-tech engineering is a remarkable achievement—especially considering that, reportedly, everything works, from the power windows to the hybrid drivetrain.
Stylistically, however, the wing and front-end treatment are a step too far for many enthusiasts.
Or as @dinyarmaster2350 put it, quoting Kenny Rogers: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em—but you went all-in and lost the bet on this one… sometimes less is more.”
What do you think?
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Comments
Still, the idea of a “Big Mercedes” that can humble modern supercars at a stoplight is undeniably compelling. Whether it’s beautiful, though—as with anything from S-Klub—is ultimately a matter of taste.
Motor1's Take: This is definitely one of the craziest restomods we've ever seen. Love it or hate it, you can't deny the craftsmanship and attention to detail. Plus, it's plenty powerful under the hood.
More Amazing Restomods
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The Manual NSX Restomod Is Officially Here. And It Looks Lovely
Gallery: Mercedes 600 "Final Boss" by S-Klub LA
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Source: S-Klub LA
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