The Autopian is proudly partnering with Copart, a one-source auto solution where car enthusiasts can get all kinds of cars in all kinds of conditions. Yesterday I velcro’d up my high-vis vest and dropped by a Copart yard in Van Nuys to check out a few potential project vehicles for us to use as a Pontiac Aztek replacement; this wacky Benz was definitely among the top contenders. Check it out.
One thing I don’t understand is: How does this 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230S sedan-turned-ute not have any internet history? You’d think something this wacky would have found its way online somewhere, but alas, this vehicle’s history remains a mystery. Who built it? Why? Was it in a movie? Was it an Australian missing their old ute?
I don’t know; all I know is that it’s a magnificent machine, even if a bit janky.
Let’s get straight to the good stuff: The bed! Behold!:
Doesn’t look bad, right? There are some bedside rails, a nice vinyl cover, and the bedsides look pretty great, even if the second-row door handles are still there. Actually, they allow access to a giant storage area behind the first row. Looking in that storage area reveals some…interesting craftsmanship.
From what I could tell, the builder welded a bar across the second-row door openings, about mid-height(where the windows start). There’s a seal on that bar against which the doors close. There’s some kind of bulkhead where the seatbacks once were, and there’s some kind of “lid,” which appears to be made partly of foam?
Anyway, the Benz-amino is about a 20-footer, and what’s more, it runs! (Something I was able to listen to in-person thanks to The Autopian being a Copart member).
Well, technically it just sputters, but I have faith that it would run.
The interior could use some seat covers, but actually, otherwise it’s really nice!
We’re looking for our next company car to do crazy things with. Should this be it? How much should we pay for it?
Let us know in the comments!
Just imagine: Mercamino pickup bed full of shrimp. We’re not sure if we have the technology, but I have faith in you guys.
Quick! Buy it before your fiancee finds out!
Isn’t she about to become half-owner of all DT’s
junkstuff?My wife joked about insisting on a prenup. But instead of documenting things she wanted to keep in the event of a divorce, it would document things she wanted no part of. “In the event of a divorce, I explicitly do not want the cars. Or the shitty rental house. Or…”
Ute all the things! Go for it!
YES. The Nash was good, but this is way better. Just have Adsit and MB classic on speed dial and you’ll be golden!
As I get older, the saying „just because you can doesn’t mean you should” makes more and more sense to me.
Then again, 10 years ago I thought converting a Wartburg 353 into a 4-door convertible is a great idea so…there’s that. I’m still glad someone’s done the above, though, especially since it works as a flower car.
Weird. The older I get, the more the saying, “Meh. Why the F not?” makes more sense to me.
As the kids say, “YOLO”.
If you DON’T buy that, I’m going to have second thoughts about continuing my membership. I mean, are we internet car weirdos, or are we internet car weirdos!?!
If he DOES buy it, then I am going to have second thoughts about continuing my membership! So there!!!!! ( sticks tongue out at Shop_Teacher) 😉
And, from here on in, Shop-Teacher will be on my SUS list!! 😉
the NASH is perfectly weird and quirky AND, the green paint color closely resembles the Autopians logo shade of green!
Oh I’m sus, but maybe you’re not sus enough!?! (sticks tongue back out at Shooting Brake)
Enjoy your beige Camry (glances nervously at his own white Corolla)
I’ll have you know that it’s a beige Volvo, you cretin! ! 😉
And, by the way, I’ve never heard of a teacher that teaches shopping. Sounds rather frivolous to me! 😉
Maybe that’s how you ended up with a Volvo instead of a proper Toyota! 🙂
۹( ÒہÓ )۶
I still vote for the NASH.
Some Genius decides NOT to buy this pile of crap and the internet takes a collective sigh of relief.
Oh lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Bedz…
I’ve changed my mind: if that’s what they call it they should buy it.
Great name, excellent work.
Fun Autopian Note: The Buick Parkamino is now moving under its own power (with brakes!) And had its first start in 24 years this past week.
That car plus Laurence Rogers’s “Project Cactus” are carrying the ute flag for us for the past couple years and adding this Benz would make 3 in the stable. Score!
https://www.theautopian.com/why-i-think-we-should-turn-our-moldy-buick-park-avenue-into-an-el-camino/
And the Motorious SWG breaks his silence. Glad to hear of Parkamino progress.
AWESOME!
Doesn’t count until we see the write-up of the build.
If it gets approved, you’ll be hopefully seeing it here soon! Cheers Mike.
Sweet! And the XK8?
How should I put this?
I think that DT is too much of a natural optimist to be relied on to accurately assess the state of someone else’s janky project and how close it is to an actual transport solution.
I like the concept, weirdly, but in its current condition being given it for free feels like a bad deal.
The only question that comes to mind is: Why?
Why would someone build this?
Why would you buy it?
Why would you want it?
The answer is yes
Why not?
I love it. This was my choice when you posted the list of cars. The two-tone, the bed, the front and back windshields and the doors to nowhere. It’s superb. Has to be worth 3 grand. I mean, is there a more practical car?
It’s weird and ugly.
I LOVE IT!
My measuring stick for all utes is “does the tailgate work?” If not, yes please buy this one and give it a working tailgate!
it would have been infinitely better to integrate a wagon Tailgate into the design for sure.
Will you sleep in this one too?
Oooh! Interesting!
This could drag me in as a member…
Edit to add: alternate nights sleeping in the driver’s seat and in the bed.
Its pretty great. As the Autopians next project vehicle, I’m curious what happened to the Autopians previous project vehicle, Ski Classe?
The crusher, hopefully. Decent concept, terrible execution. Could they have picked a worse car to start with??
Sure, an older, non-running Mercedes that’s been crudely converted into a truck.
Ski Classe 2: the regrettening.
LOL!
Oh I wasn’t really drawn in by it. I just don’t like when publications just drop projects and don’t tell anyone. Did it die? Did they crush it? Is it sitting in an Autopian’s garage doing diddly squat?
As it turned out I really destroyed that car taking it on the Gambler 500, so poor Caswell’s had to do a lot of work to make it roadworthy again. The car is still with Caswell. Last we heard it has been “cut in half” so we’re not entirely sure what Mad Max-ian shenanigans are afoot.
Caswell + Sawzall = probably a bad idea but it will be very entertaining.
Caswell + Torch’s chainsaw = Great idea!
Cool. Thanks for the update!
Why would anyone let Mercedes drive a decent running, driving car?
You sound like me. I’m still holding out hope that I’ll eventually see what happened to R&T’s “Project Ugly Horse.”
Most likely a flower car for a funeral home. They tend to leave the back doors there, and the bed is most likely just some steel or aluminum plate. Theres a towncar one here done up that eay for cheap.
Source- family business. Its one people are dying to get into.
yep https://www.hemmings.com/stories/someone-made-a-mercedes-benz-e320-pickup-and-its-pretty-neat/
I was surprised there weren’t more flower car comments.
I thought flower cars were pretty well known – but I have a FIL who is into Cadillacs and Hearses so I guess I may have had a heads up on that?
Please don’t. It’s horrible.
I actually don’t hate it. I don’t think it’s attractive, but it’s definitely a conversation starter. Buy it for less than $3,500.
A conversation about deteriorating mental health and institutionalization perhaps.
Could it have been a flower car for funerals?
It looks like an enormous pile of
terrible decisionsincredible contentIt’s very on-brand though; it would be hard to out-weird this at Autopian events.
Not a lot of room for staff, but I don’t think you’d want to go far in this without a support vehicle anyway, and think of all the promotional swag you could fit in the back!
> Doesn’t look bad, right?
Wrong.
However, this is good evidence that you haven’t gone Hollywood so I applaud it.
Buy it, David. Just imagine the adventures. The things you can keep in the bed. The content… It’s not everyday you stumble upon a Benzamino!
I wouldnt buy it.