Mercedes Airmatic vs ABC Suspension

I've heard a lot of confusion about whether a Mercedes S or CL-class has Active Body Control suspension or just standard Airmatic (air ride). The biggest difference is that the standard Airmatic suspension runs on air, whereas ABC runs on power steering fluid supplied by the power steering (tandem) pump and does not run on air at all. The car will have one system or the other, not both.

A couple of ways you can identify ABC vs Airmatic:

1. ABC cars will have a button marked "ABC Sport" on the center console, whereas the standard Airmatic suspension has a button has a picture of a spring with arrows.

2. Airmatic struts will have white plastic tubes running to the top which can be seen under hood. See below.

6 Wheeled Monster Off-Road Mercedes Mutant Vehicle in New Mad Max 4 Movie

6 Wheeled Monster Off-Road Mercedes Mutant Vehicle in New Mad Max 4 Movie

I just run into the most awesome Mercedes 300SD ever in the history of Mercedes Benz. Its a 6, count them 6 wheeled monster Off-Road Mercedes mutant vehicle beast built for the long awaited Mad Max 4: Fury Road, that is going into production next spring in Namibia.

Its basically a 80's Mercedes mounted on semi truck frame and if that's the future to come then I am going to start making preparations to convert my Mercedes Pens Art Car into it's close cousin.

I am guessing this 6-Wheeled Mercedes beauty belongs to some war lord, head honcho, bad guy who loves to ride in luxury while ordering his mutant henchmen to kill people and destroy small enclaves. It also looks like it has enough gas tanks to last a while since there aren't many places to pull over and get gas in the future. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this movie just to see this Mutant Vehicle in action. Art Car Central is proud to display and report on such exuberant mutations of Mercedes Benz cars and certainly puts this 4x4 Mercedes to shame. Recipient of The Mutant Vehicle of the Month award.

6 Wheeled Monster Off-Road Mercedes Mutant Vehicle in New Mad Max 4 Movie

6 Wheeled Monster Off-Road Mercedes Mutant Vehicle in New Mad Max 4 Movie

via bleedingcool

10,000 pieces of scrap metal + 3 German Friends = Amazing Scrap Metal Mercedes 300SLR Art Car

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Three German friends set out to pay homage to the classic 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR ‘Uhlenhaut Coupe’ by recreating it entirely out of 10,000 pieces of SCRAP METAL. Armin Ciesielski, Peter Brakel and Walter Willer who work for a German company called Giganten aus Stahl (Giants of Steel) decided one day to recreate one of the greatest cars ever made and set out to make a life size mercedes art car. The three sculptors went through thousands of pieces of scrap metal for their recycled art car masterpiece and spent several months cutting and putting about 2200lbs of it all together. Although Ciesielski claims he could rebuild any car out of crap metal, he admits this particular project was more difficult due to the car's detailed intricacy and the work that went into making the car’s engine identical to the original. If any one is interested this Scrap Metal Mercedes Art Car, its for sale for about $90,000 and proudly featured here on Art Car Central.
via Offbeat Earth
 

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Mercedes 300 SLK Scrap Metal Art Car - Art Car Central

Original Mercedes 300 SLR

Photos via

Mercedes ML63 AMG tuned car revealed by Kicherer

The Mercedes ML63 AMG car tuning package was revealed by the car tuner Kicherer.

The Mercedes ML63 AMG car is powered with 6.3-liter V8 engine system with a performance increase to 540hp and maximum torque of 640 Nm. The car has additional exciting acceleration values and maximum speed of the car is 250 km/h.

The Mercedes ML63 AMG car has Gigantic 23 inch wheels rotate in wheel cases of luxurious sports SUV, combined with electronic chassis adjustment, they achieve more sportive alignment, transferring the 540 HP power perfectly to asphalt surface. Kicherer offers a fine interior set in carbon-leather and alcantara For the passenger space in the car.

The Mercedes ML63 AMG car has additional specially developed stainless steel sports exhaust system and Kicherer PowerConverter were installed. The car has carbon edition exterior package, the ML63 appears uni-coloured and entire wrap parts are refined in most exclusive foil.

Mercedes revealed Mercedes S-Class Grand Edition car

Mercedes has revealed the Mercedes S-Class Grand Edition car in Italy which is innovative, comfortable, safe and more attractive.

The Mercedes S-Class Grand Edition car is available with two diesel and two petrol engines. The Mercedes S-Class Grand Edition car is powered with 4-cylinder Biturbo diesel engine S 250 CDI produces 204 hp and fuel consumption of the car is 5.7L/100 km and the V6 diesel engine S 350 BlueTEC produces 258 hp and 620 Nm of torque. The CO2 emissions are decreased from 177 to 164gms/km.

The Mercedes S-Class Grand Edition car is powered with V6 petrol engine S 350 Blue efficiency produces 306 hp and 370 Nm of torque and the new 4.6LV8 petrol engine produces 435hp and 700 Nm of torque. The engine reaches its maximum capacity of recovery already at 1,800 rpm / min and remains constant up to 3,500 rev / min, with the best conditions for powerful acceleration and quick shots.

The Mercedes S-Class Grand Edition car features AMG styling pack, sport front bumper with spoiler, air intake divergent, side skirts, rear bumper with extractor, chrome exhaust, AMG 5-spoke 19 inch alloy wheels with 255/40 tires up front and 275/40 rear, AMG brakes with front disc and drilled, painted brake calipers, leather steering wheel with wood trim, aluminium sports pedals, velour floor mats, LED lighting system and command APS WCF navigation system.

Pimped out Mercedes rat rod low rider art car

Its been a while since my last post and I wanted to post this multi-faceted unit I found on the 24 hour lemons facebook. This older stretch Mercedes is complex work of art complete with spoke rims, rusty flame job, low rider suspension and some checkers to complete the weirdness. Not sure were its headed but its weird enough that it ended up making me smile. Will the owner of this Mercedes step forward and be congratulated:):):)

Mercedes revealed Mercedes GL Grand Edition car

Mercedes has revealed the Mercedes GL Grand Edition car with elegant and comfortable interior.

The Mercedes GL Grand Edition car will be available with four engines. The V6 diesel engine in GL 350 BlueTEC produces 208 hp and 540 Nm of torque, the GL 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY produces 262 hp and 620 Nm of torque. The 4.6L V8 petrol engine produces 335 hp and 460 Nm of torque and 5.5L V8 produces 382 hp and 530 Nm of torque.

The Mercedes GL Grand Edition car front end has dark tinted headlamps, black radiator grille, high gloss louvres, redesigned front bumper with integrated LED daytime running lamps and grey metallic light alloy wheels with high polish finish. The interior of the car has black ash trim, stainless steel sports pedals and two tone leather seats.

The Mercedes GL Grand Edition car features innovative 4MATIC all wheel drive, AIRMATIC air suspension, accurate Direct-Steer system, Adaptive Damping System, electronic dynamic handling control systems such as Off-Road ABS, Downhill Speed Regulation and Hill-Start Assist for car drivers.

Thunderbird 2 Rally Art Car Takes to the Streets For Kids with Cancer Fund

Today's StreetSafari special is team Lucky Day and their venerable Thunderbird 2 theme.

We always liked this theme because of its simplicity, simple designs are often the best.

To make your own Thunderbird 2, simply buy a car with the vague shape of Thunderbird 2, or a Mercedes if you can't think of anything. Slam three bits of wood together to make a great big tail wing (remember, this will aid you fuel consumption), then paint the whole thing green, find a free font off the internet and get a friend to cut up some white vinyl letters.

Final job, and most important, is attaching 2 red buckets to the rear bumper. Job done.

You can of course go the extra mile and buy some eBay sourced Thunderbird costumes. Remember that the different members of Thunderbirds had different colored sashes, so don't buy a blue sash and call yourself Virgil - cause you'll look an idiot. Everyone knows blue was Scott Tracey and Virgil was had a yellow sash.

Thunderbird 2 completed 3 events in the end before being retired at the end of 2010.

By Justin Clements Street Safari

The Fantastic Life of Mercedes Art Cars

As the title sponsor of Berlin’s Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz placed some of its own designs into striking art installations meant to represent the eras in which the cars were built.
As part of the “Recollection Quartett,” staged by Mercedes-Benz and MoMu Fashion Museum, Antwerp, Belgian artist and photographer Frederik Heyman placed four cars amidst updated stereotypes of the years between 1967 and 1991.
For instance, though the SL roadster shown above was built in Germany, the artist said it came into its own on Sunset Boulevard during the freewheeling 1970s. Though we seem to recall gas lines, Watergate and skyrocketing interest rates, Heyman and fashion designer Bernhard Willhelm pay tribute to those who spent the entire Carter administration on a mattress at Plato’s Retreat.
Interestingly, the 1980s-era W123 wagon best known in the United States for shuttling wealthy suburbanites between tennis lessons and the pool at the club was popular among West German lumberjacks, tradesmen and outdoors enthusiasts. Mannequins in shoulder pads surrounding an S-Class coupe underneath fragments of a globe made from a chess board represent wealth and power in the late ’80s, while the models’ long shadows show they’re also pawns in that game.
About the only installation we can instantly relate to is the one surrounding the rock-solid W115. Faceless businesspeople in gray flannel suits look like they’ve stepped straight out of a Magritte painting, while a secretary in the front seat types out an advertisement in Arabic that reads “Taxi for sale,” a nod to the livery service the venerable “Stroke 8″ models have offered around the world.
While the settings are certainly high-concept, they’re also proof that cars are as much a product of their respective eras as they are representative of those times.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz

The W115 was popular among business types and cab drivers in far-flung locales

Bobby Brown drove a 560 SEC, and so did world power players in the late '80s.

By Keith Barry January 21, 2011

Steelers Fan Paints his Mercedes in time for Super Bowl

Martin Reese's 1983 Mercedes-Benz is decorated with a Pittsburgh Steelers logo and portraits of several players. Reese, of Daytona Beach, transformed his car into a Steelers memorial for the upcoming Super Bowl.

Martin Reese wanted to show his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But instead of buying a T-shirt, Reese, 27, of Daytona Beach spent 90 hours transforming his 1983 Mercedes-Benz into a Steelers memorial. He hand-painted it black and gold, splashed the Steelers logo across the hood and added safety Troy Polamalu's long, flowing hair on the trunk.

"I've been a die-hard Steelers fan since I was in elementary school," Reese said.

And now, as the team prepares for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers, Reese is on the road, headed to the game and spreading Steelers spirit along the way.

Wednesday afternoon, Reese took off for Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the site of the game, in the car he dubbed, "The Immaculate Mercedes," a reference to the Steelers' 1972 Immaculate Reception, one of the most famous plays in football history.
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Reese doesn't have a ticket to the Super Bowl, but he expects "Steeler nation to accept me with open arms."

An art teacher at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Reese began transforming his car into a moving piece of art three weeks ago. At that point, the Steelers were still in the playoffs.

"I had faith they would beat the Jets and go on to the Super Bowl," Reese said. He finished earlier this week.

Since then, he has been driving the car to work, much to the enjoyment of his fellow Steelers fans.

He also got some grief from Packers fans, who reminded him that their team is favored to win.

"They appreciated the artwork," Reese said.

Article By Jon Busdeker, Orlando Sentinel

Remarkable 22ft Mercedes Finn Jet Art Car Limo- Video

I was just go another remarkable "Finnjet" art car video that really gives you a much better idea of the magnitide of this car. The Finn Jet, created by Antti Rahko, is a 22-foot-long, 7,500-pound compilation of chrome made from 40 different cars, based on two Mercedes-Benz station wagons welded together. There are also parts from a 1962 Chrysler Imperial thrown in the mix, plus 86 lights and 36 mirrors added over six years. It also has three axles, two of which are steerable, a stove, microwave, freezer, TV, two air conditioning and even a sauna (Finns are very serious about their saunas).

Finnish-born Rahko, who is from Kurikka, a town of about 10,000 in western Finland, emigrated to the United States in 1984. He left his son in charge of the furniture business he'd built in Europe. He retired from the business and with lots of free time and his interest in old cars he bought and scoured from junkyards. He mainly built this car to amuse him self but due to health issues the Finnjet is now available for sale for only $950,000. He was discovered at a Florida art car parade and since then has been a giant hit and was even featured on the Discover Channel.

The name “Finn Jet” traces back to 1976, when the Finns launched the longest and largest car ferry in the world, and the only one powered by gas turbines. The original Finnjet is said to still be the fastest conventional ferry in service, with a recorded top speed of 33.5 knots.

Photo by Paul McRae



Photo by Kay and Kevin Rolfes

Mercedes Art Car or Illuminati Conspiracy

I am not sure what a half a Mercedes art car with the face of Karl Max and Jimi Hendrix means but here are some thoughts.

1) Goofy kid who thinks that Karl and Jimi were in a band together.

2) Artistic commentary: Karl Marx a German communist philosopher wrote against the capitalistic system in his Communist Manifesto is represented in this half Mercedes Art Car.

3) Its part of a secret government conspiracy and the government media complex funded by George Soros backed by the Bilderberg Group with roots in the Illuminati.  Their goal is to take over the world, and create a one world government in which the elite will rule the masses. They will do this by collapsing our current economic system and then setting up a new system making it mandatory for everyone to get implanted with a bio chip aka "the mark of the beast" in order to buy and sell products. They will start by cutting Mercedes cars in half, painting them with images of Karl Marx and then attaching them to federal buildings as a sign that the end is near.


4) Just a Mercedes Art Car.

What do you think this means???

How to sell an Art Car by Bizarro

Comic by Bizarro

Anyone who has ever had an Art Car for sale will tell you that convincing someone to look past all the paint and glued objects can be tough. This Bizarro comic depicting a father attempting to get the buyer to look past all the barbies glued on his daughters 2001 Mercedes S430 sedan says it all.

Convertible Mercedes Art Car in Under Two Hours

Do you have an art car event or parade this weekend and have nothing to drive? The experts over at Mercedes Source have boiled the entire art car making process down to a science in just under two hours. They managed to convert this 123 Mercedes into a convertible complete with flame job, custom rims, skull and cross bones and the all important message on the side. In his case it reads "Born 2 Drive" and all you need is a crew of about 5 people with skills in: Chopping, ripping, spray painting and a little design. So no more excuses, go out there and "git r done".

Garden Art Car Goes to Court

This garden art car is headed to The U.S. Supreme Court that will consider an appeal next month from the owner of Planet K stores over his long-running battle with the city of San Marcos about his right to display it. In 2007 Michael Kleinman paid two artists to transform this salvage special in front of his store into a painted cactus planter art car. City officials got themselves hot and bothered, claiming the Oldsmobile 88 was in violation of a city ordinance declaring such displays public nuisances. The car was removed and Kleinman is appealing a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in February that found the car-planter to be “ultimately a junked vehicle.”  Good luck with that!! via Its funny I was going to do a garden art car post a while back and forgotten about it until my dad sent me this article two days ago. As you can see these are just a few of the garden cars I found from around the world. Most are intentional, some natural and the last one is purely accidental. If you like these you might also like the Grass Art Cars also on Art Car Central.