If ever a car deserved to be called Fit for a King, it’s this Mercedes-Benz 280 SE. Hailing from an era when Mercedes-Benz built their cars like tanks, finding one in this condition is a rare feat. But Bastien Fischer managed to track down this gem and has spent years transforming it into the automotive masterpiece you see here.

First spotted earlier this year at Ultrace, this W126 caught my eye again at the Essen Motor Show. With a production history dating back to 1979, the 280 SE is a symbol of German engineering excellence. But what makes this car truly stand out is the vintage Kamei body kit, introduced in 1982 under the name X1. Back then, X1 was the tuning division of Kamei.

Today, sourcing an X1 body kit for a W126 is no small task, but it’s the kind of touch that completes a build like this. Combined with an air ride suspension system, the car’s stance becomes an eye-catching blend of old-school sophistication and modern-day cool.

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