Lifted Mercedes 560SEC W126 Coupe Off road Build For Desert Action
The vehicle we’re featuring today reminds me of a classic movie called “The Cannonball Run.” In this film, adventurous and wealthy individuals used various awesome cars to compete in an illegal cross-country road race, facing all kinds of obstacles along the way. These included, road closures, police chases, and even desert racing in baja bugs.
This legendary 80s coupe, a Mercedes 560SEC in the iconic W126 body style, looks just like one of the crazy rides from the aforementioned movie. It brings to mind the safari-style Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow driven by Jamie Farr’s character, Sheik Abdul ben Falafel.
Key Takeaways:
- The lifted Mercedes 560SEC has the spirit of “The Cannonball Run,” blending ’80s luxury with off-road modifications
- Spotted in the UAE, this build show a subtle trend of transforming high-end vehicles into desert-machines.
- Extensive suspension upgrades and off-road enhancements seamlessly blend in with the iconic W126 aesthetics.
- A unique combo of sand tires and wide beadlock rims creates a solid setup for desert action
The Build
Much like the car from the movie, this lifted Benz has a connection to the Middle East. Spotted by Chahat Gandhi in Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, this luxury coupe – long a status symbol of the rich and famous – is also prepared for serious off-road action.
Lifted Suspension
While we don’t have many details about the modifications and upgrades done to this vehicle, the massive custom trailing arms that stick out under the rear wheels make it evident that the suspension work involves much more than just a basic spacer lift.
Exterior
The incredibly clean exterior design with original body lines shows that the owner/builder clearly wanted to preserve the original aesthetics of the W126. Even the low-profile front off-road bumper with an integrated LED light bar is color-matched to the body of the car and perfectly blends into its design.
Wheels & Tires
Of course, as with any off-road build, wheels and tires play the most important role in this project. The unusual tire shape resembles desert wheel setups seen on prerunner trucks but features a much narrower tread width. This, in combination with wide Method beadlock rims, creates a unique and functional wheel profile that allows this RWD car to maintain traction in sand.
Conclusion
This Mercedes 560SEC safari build shows a cool transformation of the classic ’80s status symbol into a desert pre-runner. The builder’s attention to details showcases a thoughtful approach to modifications which allowed him to preserve the orignal aesthetics of the car and integrate all necessary upgrades to make truly offroad-worthy.
