This year’s Essen Motor Show didn’t disappoint. Among the new kids on the block and the usual suspects, one car stood out like a neon sign in a sea of chrome: a jaw-dropping Mercedes-Benz 190E that’s been making waves online for months. So now I finally had the possibility to take a closer look at this build and see all the details that make this car special.
The starting point was a humble 1991 190E. But owner Nic Stubbs didn’t just restore it, he transformed it into a full-blown EVO II tribute, complete with the iconic Falken livery. Under the bonnet sits a snarling V8 M113 engine, nestled in a meticulously cleaned and painted bay.
Suspension? Air ride, of course, paired with adjustable XLO dampers, camber tops, bespoke air bags, and custom control arms. The trunk houses the compressor and air tank in a show-ready install.
Rolling stock comes courtesy of three-piece Volk Racing GTP wheels, converted from 17 to 18 inches with step lips. Specs? 10J x 18 ET0 up front, 10J x 18 ET-10 at the rear, wrapped in Falken Azenis FK520 rubber. Powder-coated white for that perfect old-school vibe.
Bodywork is equally wild: custom metal EVO II arches that are 20mm wider than a standard Mercedes-Benz 190E EVO II. The bumpers are from a real EVO II, it has Cosworth side skirts, and a carbon-fibre roof. The front grille is smoothed and colour-coded, while the bonnet features aero-catch pins and an open-bay clip for that motorsport feel.
Inside, it’s all business: a custom six-point roll cage in white, Recaro Pole Position seats, Takata harnesses, carbon door cards, and a handmade carbon parcel shelf. Even the dashboard got the bespoke treatment.
Finally, the whole car is resprayed in Falken green, overlaid with a blue Falken design wrap. It’s a showstopper, a track weapon, and a love letter to one of Mercedes’ most iconic shapes, all rolled into one.