When show cars fall off the circuit, where do they go? While some are parted out down to the shell and some are consigned to the crusher, some are simply doing duty as used cars, hidden gems from a scene time forgot made ordinary. Case in point? This very turquoise Mercedes-Benz ML350.
This brightly-colored W164 ML350 comes to us from user dogapult, who graciously catapulted this candy-painted Benz into our Discord. It’s up for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Gibraltar, Michigan for the low, low price of $2,000, which seems worthwhile if you’re a fan of the looks. Obviously, a bright turquoise Mercedes-Benz SUV isn’t for everyone, but that’s where the appeal lies. It’s highly individualistic, made for enjoyment rather than resale value. Still, that doesn’t tell the whole story — at one point, this thing had 30-inch Forgiatos on it, as you can see in this 2015 video:
Reportedly built by Sarcazm in Lauderhill, Fla., this ML350 was once the peak of show car creativity, an all-out dripfest of speakers, monitors, wheels, and paint. It was featured in Rides magazine, attended DUB shows, and turned heads everywhere it went. Taking a slightly deeper look, candy turquoise paint gives way to a stunning turquoise leather and light grey suede interior that really needs to be seen to be appreciated. Even the carpets have been dyed turquoise. So much craftsmanship and time went into this interior at one point that the current asking price may just cover two reupholstered seats. Like I said, it’s a bargain.
Looking past the upholstery, I can’t help but notice the massive speakers and seemingly-ported speaker enclosures in the door, an artifact from a very different time. In car entertainment doesn’t feel as big as it used to, which is a shame because there’s a perverse joy in having the power of a presidential inauguration PA system in your trunk.
While the excessive Forgiato wheels have since been lost to history, the mesh grillework and custom front plate remain, as does the unusual turquoise interior trim. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on with the tray in the center console, other than that it has bills printed on it, but that’s just the style of the time. Regardless, it looks like a rather convenient place to stick a modern tablet and run Waze, so consider it as fashionable as it is functional.
I’m not saying that someone needs to buy this and put $50,000 in wheels back on it, but a cheap set of used 20-inch chrome wheels would really amp up the Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition vibes. Just because show cars aren’t quite as cutting-edge as they used to be doesn’t mean they have to be just another used car, or something consigned to the crusher. Whether or not you enjoy this style, it’s impossible to argue that this car isn’t a piece of history. Whenever aughts nostalgia kicks into high gear and period-correct shows start popping up all over the country, this thing is ready to be a star once again.
(Photo credits: Facebook Marketplace seller, S Johnson Photos)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
You’ll Never Guess What’s Underneath This Odd-Looking Morris Minor
-
This $5,500 Saturn Vue Ute Looks Like A Proper(ish) Cheap Alternative To A Ford Maverick
-
Someone Imported A 2005 Toyota Camry From Japan And I Just Don’t Get It
-
The Original Mercedes-Benz ML Was Weirder Than You Remember
-
This Famous Lime Green Pontiac Solstice Is Pure 2000s Tuner Car And Now You Can Buy It
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
I don’t even have to squint to hear the Eiffel 65.
Would’ve bought it in a hot blue second if it showed up for $2K around these parts.
I remember Seeing this unit pretty often while attending shows in Florida. One of the better built big wheel cars for its time
If I learned anything from listening to the Your Mom’s House podcast, it’s that the word on that front license plate is not to be trifled with.
yeah may want to have that removed, maybe put in your neighbor’s trash and not yours
Back when they were cheap, I bought a ’66 VW bus without an engine from a friend. I wanted to “restore” it to it’s highest glory, root beer brown with purple wheels, cutout rear wheel wells, red shag carpet interior with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album cover epoxied onto the spare tire holder (non-walkthru). I wanted to go to VW and car shows to troll folks with it. See, see what your blinged up vehicle will look like in a few more years after the current fad fades away. Sadly, I needed money, so I sold it for more than I paid, but now sad to have seen it go as cheap as it was.
If there’s a Car Protection Agency, I’d like to report this car to them. Poor, oh, poor thing.
I have never been able to hurt a vehicle on purpose. I wouldn’t be able to key my worst enemy’s car by respect for mechanics and engineering.
That anyone has done this to this poor thing, on purpose, is final proof that Dostoievsky has wasted his time – all one needs to understand the pitch-black darkness of human soul is to look at that thing (not for long, ideally).
What I think is crazy is that the seller doesn’t even seem to know the history, or doesn’t care enough to tell buyers. She’s selling it like it’s a normal ml350 and not a crazy over the top bling machine! Oh, and it needs shocks. Haha if this was closer I would be so tempted!
I mean show cars have pretty much always been stupid, but wow.
That would be an instant 24 Hours of Lemons legend. Put it on some dubs, at minimum, and take it racing.
And I thought heraldic crests on taillights was questionable taste.
It’s already gone. The seller’s Facebook feed says so, even though the ad is still up.
I would’ve been interested at the earlier asking price of $4,000, but would’ve hoped to get it for less.
I would have tolerated its oddball character to fill a specific current need, and worried about toning down the style later.
I live in Gibraltar MI and I was going to drive around to find this gem lol damn it
The video was posted in 2015 if any one was curious.
The most amazing thing about this is that the cosmetics are pretty decent – the headlights are cloudy, as you’d expect for any used German luxury car of this age, but the bumper isn’t all torn up, the clear coat hasn’t peeled off, and the interior isn’t roached. All makes it seem like someone was actually taking good care of it until very recently.
The headlights are cloudy, as you’d expect from any car that’s been parked outside of this age,
For whatever reason, steeply depreciated German luxury cars seem to get worse upkeep in general than other cars of the same age
There’s a lot of overlap between how an Altima and a German car on it’s third owner are maintained. Which is to say they don’t get maintained.
Have you tried to up keep a depreciated German luxury car? Paying more for maintenance than the car is worth is tough.
If i see an old German car on the road that’s in good condition, I call those folks stealth rich.
Is this the surprise new car Moog just bought Marty? I haven’t gotten to watch that vid yet.
Every so often, I see somebody’s beater that has the remains of a once outlandish paint job and wonder if it’s a one time show car. There’s a Suburban around where I live with impressively 90’s graphics all over. Bone stock wheels, though. Probably had an expensive set at one time.
I always wondered where cars that dont sell as estimated go? I mean 53,000 produced 5,300 sold. I would buy a new 3 year old car with low miles ugly as sin if the price were right. The best I did was a $10,000 rebate on my VX.