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Renntech have come out and produced a stunning restomod of an iconic 1990s Mercedes sedan, the 600 SEL
Mercedes-Benz are one of the finest car manufacturers in the world. Over many decades, they have produced some fantastic cars ranging from sports cars to sedans, to supercars and the iconic G-Wagen. Some of their best cars are their classic cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL. This is one of the finest sedans that the company has ever made, and it would be hard to find something better than it. However, Renntech may have found a way to make it better.
Enter their incredible 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL Restomod. This is something pretty incredible that recently came out, taking the 600 SEL to the next level. The company is one of the top names when it comes to modifying Mercedes-Benz products already, and this is their latest machine. What they have come up with is what is now called the S76R which they say has the most powerful naturally aspirated V12 engine to ever come from themselves. And that V12 engine packs an almighty punch. So let's take a closer look at this utterly incredible masterpiece.
When you see a product from Renntech, you sit up and take note. What the company has done is first started out with the iconic Mercedes M120 6.0-liter V12 engine. This is one of the best engines that Mercedes ever produced yet Renntech have taken that to new heights. It is now rebored and stroked, that has given the M120 a huge 7.6-liter displacement. That is an increase of the same displacement the V6 engines in an F1 car have. How they have achieved this huge gain is equally impressive.
What Renntech has done is then added new internals to the engine. We have new titanium connecting rods, plus AMG cams. Ported heads are now added, as are titanium retainers and some beehive valve springs. To feed the engine with its fuel there are also thirdy-pound fuel injectors in the car. Renntech have added their own airbox design to the engine too, with stainless steel headers for the exhaust gasses and sport catalytic converters and quad mufflers. All of this adds up to a truly brilliant 615 hp, all oozing out of polished stainless steel exhaust tips with a glorious V12 soundtrack.
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This 615 hp V12 engine allows the Renntech creation to reach a top speed of 155 mpg. Renntech say that the car should reach the 0-60 mph figure in around the 5-5.4 second mark, highly impressive. Renntech haven’t confined their changes just to the engine either, far from it. They have taken the four-speed automatic transmission out of the 1992 600 SEL and entirely replaced it. An upgraded five-speed transmission from a 1996 version of the car now features, and for even more performance there is now an OS Giken limited-slip differential added as well. Make no mistake, these are some pretty major upgrades.
What else has got done then? Well for starters, there are new brakes for the Mercedes. Carbon-ceramic discs are now fitted, with six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the back of the car. The front disks are 15.38 inches while those at the back are 14.17 inches. Renntech have also worked their magic on the suspension with shorter coil springs, and a second-generation adaptive damper system is yet another highlight. While the mechanical side of things is the main focus, the exterior and interior are equally important.
While the car does look quite stock on the outside, Renntech have added a few upgrades of their own. For starters there is the front splitter, followed by the trunk lip spoiler. Louvered side moldings are another exterior feature, as is the AMG ground effects kit. One-off forged aluminum wheels are another standout. Renntech have tried hard to keep the interior looking original, but there are some upgrades. These are the new seats with diamond embroidery, and a lot of carbon fiber trip plus the Alcantar headliner. These add a touch of modernity to a classic interior design.
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Renntech have certainly taken this classic Mercedes machine to whole new heights. The addition of the extra power makes this one of the most potent Mercedes sedans that any of us can get our hands on, and it's refreshing to see a few interior changes to while keeping it, plus the exterior, as close to the original design as humanly possible. Restomods can sometimes be polarizing, but if done tastefully they can be simply beautiful. This one very much falls into that latter category, and Renntech should be very much applauded for the work they have put into this masterpiece.
Covering anything from JDM cars to classic jets. Contributed to HotCars since the Autumn of 2018. Writes features, news and list articles.