It doesn't get better than a custom-built, 600+ horsepower V-12 in a retro Mercedes-Benz
Some restomods are better than others, yeah Singers are great and all, but every now and then you want something a little more subtle, something that doesn't scream "hey I have more money than you!" Retro and classic German cars have always been a good candidate for this sort of thing as the usually rather conservative styling makes them perfect options to turn into mind-blowing sleepers. The ultimate example of this formula is now upon us in the form of the RENNtech S76R.
This entire W-140 1992 Mercedes S-Class SEL has been extensively modernized and modified in nearly every detail, however, the party piece is the engine. The standard M-120 was a 6.0-liter V-12 capable of 413 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. Now though, it has been bored and stroked to 7.6-liters, which happens to make the largest M-120 ever.
Related: At 142 Million The Mercedes Silver Arrow Could Be The Most Expensive Calssic Car In The World
The increase in displacement is in addition to lightweight pistons, titanium connecting rods, beehive springs and titanium retainers, AMG performance cams, ported heads, custom air boxes, larger fuel injectors, a rebuilt wiring harness, and an MY 96 ME-1 ECU with a tune to make sure everything runs smoothly. There is also a new stainless-steel exhaust with equal-length headers, sport catalytic converters, and new mufflers.
All these alterations add up to a maximum output of 615 horsepower and 703 pound-feet of torque. All that grunt is sent through a beefed-up version of the 5-speed automatic gearbox from Mercs of yesteryear, along with a limited-slip differential, to the rear wheels only. This helps the S76R achieve 0-60 miles per hour in about 5 seconds and reach a 155 mph top speed.
Related: The 1966 Mercedes-Benz SLX Is The AMG One's Long Lost relative
To keep all that power in check, there are extensive handling upgrades as well. In the front, there are 402 mm carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers and 360 mm carbon ceramic discs with 4-piston calipers. That new braking system weighs a quarter of what the original system did. The 19-inch forged aluminum wheels are as much about helping the dynamic capabilities as they are about resembling classic monoblocks as they are wrapped in 285 mm-wide rubber.
The visual modifications are just as extensive, yet restrained. They include a new front splitter, side skirts, a rear lip spoiler, and lowered suspension. The interior has been entirely overhauled with carbon fiber inlays, quilted leather on the new seats, a headliner wrapped in Alcantara, a dashboard and center console wrapped in leather, and a new steering wheel, and carpeting. The original rear bench seat has been replaced with a two-seat layout in the rear, and the stereo has a new head unit and new speakers.
Porsches and classic muscle cars are not the only models in the enthusiast community that deserve a thorough re-make from genuinely talented people that truly care about the cars that they work on. If only more of these kinds of cars existed, maybe we would see that V-16 BMW 7 Series finally come to life after all.
Josh has always had a love affair with cars. This mostly started as a kid playing video games like Need for Speed Underground and going to the occasional car show with his father and grandfather in Columbus, Ohio. Once he got to college he realized he loved writing and decided to change his major from Business Management to Emerging Media focusing in Journalism. Josh graduated from Capital University in 2022 and has been with TopSpeed for over a years now, first as an intern, now as a freelance journalist. He currently daily drives a 1997 Mazda Miata and loves covering all possible areas of the automotive landscape, although he has a specialty in aftermarket or custom builds, as well as manufacture's plans on how to tackle an ever changing world.