Having debuted over half a century ago, the Mercedes 280 SE later became known as the harbinger of the luxury-laden S-Class. The example in the video looks stock until you notice an AMG badge at the back – and it is not there just for show, either.
The tuner who carried out the project originally purchased the saloon for his marriage ceremony, but decided to hold on to it later. Seeing how hungry the old engine was for both gasoline and oil, he knew he had to swap it for something more modern and powerful.
The choice fell on the 5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 normally powering the S55 AMG model. The mill pumps out roughly 405 PS (400 hp / 300 kW) and utilizes a six-speed manual transmission borrowed from a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire to drive the rear wheels.
Watch the video for a full review of this fascinating project by Top Gear. The episode also features the tuner’s other project, a 44-year-old Mercedes 280 CE swapped to the same engine model but with an added stainless-steel body kit and a power boost of 50–100 horsepower over stock.
