A significant portion of my youth was spent devouring hardcover books about exotic and sports cars, whatever Waldenbooks and the original Barnes & Noble locations – before they became gigantic, coffee-serving book warehouses – would put on the sale racks. Looking back, there were obviously many sports models littering the pages that I still yearn for today, but there was also a heavy concentration of high-end replicas (like Ferrari Daytonas, similar to what you see in Miami Vice) and neoclassical creations like this one, a 1982 Phillips Berlina listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $26,000.
This was yet another attempt at creating an affordable version of the Mercedes-Benz 540K. While I can freely acknowledge the Mercedes is a significant car, I can’t quite comprehend the obsession with it. In all my years of car community exposure, I can never recall someone relaying their fervent desire to own a 540K. A Lamborghini Countach, yes; a Ferrari 308, yes; but a model that barely anyone was alive to remember, even 30 years ago, and that was relatively unknown outside of Mercedes enthusiast circles? Baffling. It makes sense that so many Countach replicas exist because even non-car people associated them with perceptions of wealth and success.
The Phillips Berlina was similar to so many other neoclassical creations in that it took an existing chassis (in this case, a Corvette C3) and draped a swooping body over it with exaggerated details like white-wall tires, wire wheels, and a gigantic spare tire enclosure, and sold it at a massive premium for anyone silly enough to pay for it. And plenty did, with the Berlina sold at an MSRP of around $80,000. Think about how many high end luxury and sports models sold for under $20,000 in the early 80s, and it makes you realize just how smitten someone had to be with a neoclassical coupe like this to put down a deposit.
If you want my honest and uninformed take, this is what the modern restomod will become. All of the Broncos, Chevelles, and Range Rovers outfitted with modern conveniences and sold with a massive price hike will someday be in garages like this, wearing names of companies that have long since shuttered. They will sell for a pittance against their original asking price, because we will all still place more value on an original vehicle. While it’s illogical to assume the first owner of this Berlina could have bought a 540K instead, we all still do have the chance to buy an original Bronco versus one with Bluetooth and leather seats; let’s choose wisely. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Russell Glantz for the tip.
Jeff, I seem to recall a groundswell of interest in the 540K in, I think, the 1960s. I caught the bug, even building a model kit. They were gorgeous cars — much, much later, I saw a real one and was captivated — and, if you ask me, worthy of replication.
But I always have had the feeling that none of the “replica” builders actually saw or took measurements off an original. The forms and proportions were always somewhat off, made worse by fitting the new shell to the donor car’s hardpoints. Using off-the-shelf small parts (like the VW Beetle front turn indicators) and the donor car’s interior didn’t help, either.
My feeling, though of course YMMV, is that the kits inspired by classic designs but not attempting to copy, were the most appealing.
Right on Ray, good eye Glantz. Thanks for the feature Lavery. Enjoyed it. 👍
I really don’t mind these kind of strange creations and could even consider owning one. And perhaps factory built ones stay glued together a bit better than home assembled kit cars which tend to look very dilapidated after some time. But I can’t wrap my head around the price. $26k? I just don’t see the buyer who will pay anything near that price level for a car that in today’s world has no place. It’s not a classic. It’s not a symbol of wealth and status. It’s not a daily driver. So I just don’t see who would pay that kind of money for what today just feels like a funny joke?