El Benzino: 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL

It’s hard to understand why, but there is seemingly a segment of Mercedes-Benz owners who wish to convert their stately sedans into pickup trucks. There is some logic to it, of course, most of it tied to the durability of these vehicles. Mercedes’ drivetrains are notoriously overbuilt and could be up to the task of hauling small loads of household wares. Of course, it could also be that the general lower values of some of the overbuilt cars from the malaise era simply aren’t worth a strong price but are also too good to scrap, which is a perfect receipt for a home-brew conversion. Check out this 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL that’s been converted to an El Camino lookalike here on Hemmings.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find. The W116 sedan is one of the more commonly spotted examples of an older Mercedes model that hasn’t yet been rendered totally extinct. You may not seem them on the road with commuter traffic, but they represent an entry-level hobby car for the budget-minded, and certainly an easy choice for a Mercedes enthusiast who just wants a taste of yesteryear. The build quality was tremendous, and in the dark days of the malaise era, the W116 was still quite a car. Obviously, the range-topper was the 6.9L-equipped super sedans, which was capable of acceleration not often seen in a production four-door.

The seller’s car doesn’t have the monster motor but is equipped with the standard engine, a 4.5L V8 that made around 180 horsepower. The Mercedes may have been comparable to Cadillacs of the same era in terms of performance, but the Benz held the advantage in build quality and perceived quality, which led to higher resale prices. The interiors were also quite durable, as this example shows, with leather seating surfaces that could withstand loads of abuse. The dashboard and wood trim were far more fragile, but they appear to be in decent shape here. The seller’s conversion has rendered this into a true two-seater.

The marketability of a truly custom vehicle is one of the major downsides to attempting a build like this. You have to hope to find someone who likes your vision as much as you do, and that’s not exactly easy to do when we’re talking about luxury sedans converted into a German El Camino. The Mercedes would present much, much better with a set of European headlights, a modest lowering kit, and some more understated wheels – perhaps a set of 16-inch AMG monoblocks as opposed to the aftermarket chromies this car wears. The asking price is $16,995, which will indeed require a special buyer who loves the concept as much as the builder.