Road&Track once called the 80s vintage Mercedes-Benz 380SEC a "svelte vault”. It remains one of my favorite cars. It combines classic great looks with grace, power, and handling into an everlasting beauty.
As a coupé based on the S-series, it has a shortened wheelbase and greenhouse that highlight the more graceful proportions. These observations are based, of course, on putting 80s Germanic engineering and understated beauty into proper perspective.
In 1982 Co-Hog transitioned from the strong foundation of the original eighteen chunky models to the first group of Special Editions with proportions and graphics like their 1:1 counterpart.
Twenty-two different Special Editions were made from mid-1982 until late 1986. The range covered many favorites from Ferraris and Porsches to BMWs and even a Rolls Royce. A total of 174 examples were completed.
This Mercedes-Benz 380SEC was in the original group of five different Special Editions. It is #1 of only fourteen made from 1982-1983 and measures about 7 1/2" long. The body is made from four pieces of Malaysian jelutong with a basswood hood and jelutong bumpers. Wheels/tires are turned from maple and painted. Automotive paint was used for the bodies.
Hand silkscreened wheel centers were made from my hand drawn interpretation of the Mercedes wheel. The front grill is also silkscreened with the Mercedes logo. Orange, red, and silver Scotchcal was individually cut for the trim details and flat black vinyl over silver Scotchcal is used for the windows.
The prototype for the 380SEC is shown in this Polaroid. The front lights and grill changed, but it mostly stayed true through the rest of the edition.
Another Polaroid shows the handsome departing view.
These are the original drawings done to guide prototype development.
After 42 years, #1 is holding up well and I still enjoy seeing it residing in the display case.
See a few more Co-Hog Special Editions here.