Unfortunately, I’m going to start this post with a little complaint.
Last year, after the Players Classic, I wrote an article about my friend Ray’s Mercedes SEC and my BMW 740i Sport. In that article, I explained how the BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes of the ’80s and ’90s experienced a pop culture renaissance that made them harder for enthusiasts to acquire.
Well, there seems to have been a shift more towards Mercedes models since then. Iconic examples are being bought up in droves, and often for the wrong reasons.
The Mercedes-Benz of the 90s became the car of choice for fast-moving people instagram fame, and tried to make it happen by playing a Notorious BIG song on a reel with generic angles and moody filters.
A little tip for you guys: Biggie is a Lexus and BMW guy, not a Mercedes guy.
That’s why, on a recent trip to Wales, I decided to stop by 187 Automotive and allow myself a little cultural reset of the three-pointed star breed.
Nic Stubbs is in charge and within minutes of talking to him at FittedUK last year I could tell he was a Mercedes fanatic through and through.
His own 1994 E-Class convertible – the A124 model – is one of my favorite vintage Mercedes in the UK right now. I’m a sucker for rare split rims and his Ronald Brabus three-spoke is close to my heart.
It’s a simple, effortless build with well-chosen parts to make a really cool package.
Not like Nic’s 190 E though. That’s a different pot of fish, but we’ll be back soon…
The casual attitude of the 187 Automotive team seems at odds with the engineering prowess and “serious” nature of the car they’re working on. After all, Mercedes-Benz is a powerhouse with a reputation for producing some mechanically solid vehicles.
That’s not a criticism of the 187 Automotive, though, far from it. It’s refreshing to be in a messy workshop surrounded by cool cars.
Yes, there’s a lot to like about the pristine work environment, the sterile walls and white floors, and the latest cutting-edge equipment capable of performing brain surgery on fleas. However, as 187 Technician Ellis Simin eloquently put it, “A clean workshop is one that is not used.”
Some of you may foam at the mouth and disagree with this statement, but allow me to address your concerns. First off, the quality and workmanship of the 187 Automotive’s cars is top-notch, so anything you might say about the car “reflecting workshop standards” is moot.
After all, 187 is a company that has produced back-to-back award-winning show cars.
Second, while retro Mercedes-Benzes may be overdesigned, they’re still structurally closer to heavy machinery than most other cars from the ’80s. After all, AMG’s first 124 V8-powered Mercedes were called “hammers,” not “scalpels.”
Take the matte case on the right as an example. Mercedes-Benz E 500, fully restored at 187. Developed jointly by Mercedes and Porsche in 1989, don’t mistake it for a refined sports car such as the 911 or 968.
A thick steel chassis housed a thunderous M119 V8 producing 342hp, making it a five-seat, four-door muscle car. Ellis knew the engines, electronics and chassis inside and out. Fortunately, wire looms down almost as quickly as heavy German steel turns into lightweight German rust.
The Evo II-kitted 190 E is Nic’s next “big” project, following the silver “Evo” 190 E. I can’t reveal too much, but there is a clue photo as to what the car’s end goal is. All I can say is it’s going to be wild and preemptively post another comment, these wheels are just for trial fitting.
Is the presentation of the seminar important? In a way, yes. However, I’d rather drive my beloved German classics to a small, messy garage run by die-hard enthusiasts with real world knowledge than a pristine garage where I have to wipe out the manual to relearn the old car.
Oh, and if the 187 vibe isn’t cool enough, let me mention 187 Studios. Nic’s partner, Mica Dori, has his own tattoo studio next to the detailing area of the workshop, so both you and your car can spend the day with some new modifications.
Mica themselves have one of the most unique and coolest 190 Es out there. The level of craftsmanship and detail that she and the lads at 187 put into the build is insane, and I was lucky enough to get up close and personal with this car for a while last year. I think it’s time for you guys to see it, so keep an eye out. Mika’s car will surprise you.
Mr. 190E
If you’re brave enough to use “mr_190e” as your instagram handle, you’d better have a car to reverse. Nic’s long-running 190 E, and the fact that he’s owned over 25 of them over the years certainly go a long way toward justifying that title.
Starting with the obvious, Nic’s 190 E comes with a 2.5-16 Evolution body kit, which is my personal favourite, the W201. Not to be confused with the chunky Evo II kit, the Evo (or Evo I) is the more appropriately proportioned option in my opinion. The car was repainted bare metal in Brilliant Silver 744 metal during assembly, and Nic even found a rare non-sunroof skin to give it a “smooth top”. Symmetrical mirrors are a combination of RHD and LHD passenger “stubby” mirrors, giving them a “cupped” appearance.
It’s hard to understand how much work it took to get the Evolution kit to work on the road 190E, but our own need for speed A hero car is the perfect way to show you off. To quote Ryan Stewart, “DTM race cars have a barrel design and are about 6 inches taller than the factory race cars; they also don’t need to be used anywhere other than completely flat circuits with huge wheels. “
Nick built the car to go fast. He found as many photos as he could, old and new, as well as technical documentation of 190 E DTM cars, to use as the basis for his own build. So while installing an FIA-approved roll cage and seam-welded chassis, Nic also tubularized the front and rear arches to provide a full range of steering angles and compression clearance at the low ride height.
Inside the cage are a pair of Recaro Pole Position seats with Sabelt harnesses. The ride controls are simple but effective, a full leather BBS three-spoke steering wheel (LBB 36/3-01 to be exact) on BG breakout bosses, and an OBP adjustable pedal box with Wilwood hydraulic cylinders. Look beyond the steering wheel and you’ll find a bespoke, stripped-down instrument cluster with a small, vibrant booster gauge.
Between the seats there’s a nylon-geared knob-style shifter that, for a 190 E, has surprisingly positive shifting, and a line-lock valve in place of the handbrake. Why a boost gauge, no handbrake, and an astonishing shifter? This would come down to the fact that no part of the drivetrain and suspension or brake components remained original.
Nic’s 190 now runs an M111 supercharged 2.3L engine mated to a 5-speed W202 gearbox and a W124 E-grade ASD limited differential.
An enlarged crankshaft pulley and a reduced size supercharger pulley greatly increase the speed of the Eaton blower. The whine this car makes is ridiculous. Even with the wind, the tailgate open, and the sound caps on my ears, all I could hear while taking rolling photos was the sound of the supercharger.
The supercharger has been ported and polished for better airflow, and a full stainless steel exhaust runs from the manifold to the rear of the car.
Speaking of which, in the trunk is an 8-gallon OBP aluminum fuel tank with dual Bosch 044 fuel pumps and an in-line high-flow filter connected by AN-8 braided fuel lines.
Behind the 18-inch satin black BBS BC306 wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires are W204 C63 AMG brake calipers with slotted and drilled 365mm and 345mm discs, held in place by bespoke billet brackets.
BBS wheels are as much an aesthetic decision as they are a necessity. Nic needs a wheel with more clearance because the AMG calipers are very large.
Custom BC shocks with custom camber-adjustable top mounts allow the 190 E to drop enough to fill the highly raised, rounded wheel arches. The 190 ES has the largest factory arch clearance with Mercedes-Benz models of Unimogs, and Nic has given his W201 a very purposeful stance.
The car’s presence on the road is enormous, and seeing it chasing me at eye level made me feel as if I was in a DTM highlight reel from the ’90s.
Nic’s 190 E is a loud, snarling, rough and ready pocket rocket – a world away from Mercedes-Benz dominating my world instagram Eat immediately.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have nowhere to tell anyone how they should Enjoy the car. I own a big “gangsta” BMW and I love listening to hip hop in it.Occasionally post a photo of myself instant messaging also.
To many people, I may exhibit the kind of behavior I rant about at the beginning of this article.However my complaint is not about What what people do with these cars, it’s Why.
What I find so endearing about the 187 Automotive is that they’re just doing what they love to do, and having a good time. There is no pretentiousness, no effort. No one is trying to maintain an image or create a lifestyle that doesn’t exist. This is a group of hardcore Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts living their best lives.
Nic and his team are building some powerful motors, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. To me, that’s pretty impressive.
Mario Cristo
Instagram: mcwpn