It was a typical Friday night, the kind where summer’s warmth still lingered in the air. While a house party buzzed with the usual college revelry inside, I found myself in the garage, happily lost in the familiar scent of motor oil and metal as I tinkered with a BMW. A few friends joined, seeking refuge from the party noise, and we were soon engrossed in polishing car parts and casual conversation. That’s when two guys approached, drawn in by the garage activity. “Saw the party, figured it was cool to come over,” one of them said. Being new to the neighborhood myself, I was glad for the company and the chance to meet fellow car enthusiasts.
Their names were Cory Hutchison and Rodney Nichols, and they quickly proved to be one of the most genuinely funny and likeable pairs of friends I’d ever met. We talked for a while, sharing our car passions – mine for BMWs, theirs, as I soon learned, for Hondas. Preludes were their automotive obsession, much like BMWs were mine. As the evening drew to a close, I invited them back for a weekend wrenching session, jokingly adding, “Mark my words… hang around here long enough, and I’ll have you guys in BMWs in no time.”
Fast forward, and Cory and Rodney have indeed become some of my closest friends. And, in a twist of fate, my playful prediction almost came true. While Cory remains a dedicated BMW driver, Rodney, after selling his BMW E23 735i, surprised us all by acquiring a Mercedes-benz 190e. Okay, so it’s not a BMW, but this classic Mercedes is undeniably outstanding and, importantly, European – close enough to consider it a win in our friendly automotive rivalry.
Rodney’s automotive heart had long belonged to Honda. His passion wasn’t just for four wheels either; street bikes held an equal fascination. For years, a Honda CBR motorcycle shared garage space with his beloved 2nd-gen Prelude and his fiancée’s 5th-gen Prelude. “I think I’d sell the car before the bike,” he once told me, echoing the sentiments of many motorcycle enthusiasts who understand the unique thrill of two wheels. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Rodney listed his CBR for sale on Craigslist. The reasons were unclear – perhaps another bike, car funds, or just life expenses – but the bike was up for grabs.
Craigslist, as always, attracted a colorful array of characters. Lowball offers and bizarre trade proposals flooded in – the usual mix of unrealistic bargain hunters and people offering trades for things of questionable value. But one call stood out: a trade offer for a grey market Mercedes-Benz 190E. It was described as barely running, with faded paint and a somewhat questionable fiberglass front end grafted on from a larger, older Mercedes model. Intrigue piqued, Rodney decided to investigate, and I was definitely on board to see this unusual Benz.
Later that week, Rodney arrived at my place in the red 190E. The grafted front end protruded awkwardly, like an overbite on wheels, and the once-red paint had faded to a cloudy pink, reminiscent of a sun-bleached soda can. The engine sputtered at idle, and acceleration was hesitant – the car’s obscure diaphragm-based fuel injection system was clearly failing, a mechanical puzzle that was, understandably, “all Chinese” to Rodney, a Chevy technician by trade. Despite its obvious flaws, Rodney was excited.
Beneath the faded paint, however, lay a complete original Zender body kit, seemingly untouched and in perfect condition. The body itself, aside from the paint, was remarkably straight and free of dents. Inside, beneath tattered upholstery, were a pair of original Recaro seats, flanking a desirable euro-spec dogleg manual transmission. A rare D&W steering wheel and shift knob were still in place from the factory, and cloth houndstooth door cards covered manual roll-up windows. This 190E had “it” – all the sought-after features that Mercedes enthusiasts dream of finding, and it had somehow landed in Rodney’s lap. But restoring it to its former glory would be a significant undertaking.
If Rodney wasn’t a paint correction expert before, he certainly became one. He dedicated countless hours to buffing and polishing the old, faded paint, working tirelessly to bring back its luster. Without constant attention, the paint would quickly revert to its washed-out state, but Rodney’s persistent efforts kept it looking respectable. Sourcing original European-spec headlights from overseas and finding a good condition hood at a local junkyard, Rodney and Cory tackled the respray in a woodworking shop. Miraculously, the color match was near perfect, and the 190E began to resemble the car Mercedes intended. With the bodywork and paint addressed, Rodney turned his attention to the engine issues, ordering parts from eBay in his quest for a properly running car. Once the mechanical gremlins were sorted, the Benz became Rodney’s daily driver, handling his hour-long commute to and from the Chevy dealership.
After much consideration, Rodney chose wheels: a set of 17×8 and 17×9 split wheels reminiscent of the iconic “AMG Hammer” Aeros. Wrapped in 205/40 and 215/40 Falken 512 tires, the Krone wheels filled the 190E’s boxy wheel arches perfectly. To achieve the desired stance, Rodney fabricated custom strut mounts, paired with custom springs and struts, balancing a quality ride with street-ready style. With the final details addressed, the 190E was show-ready, and it undeniably turned heads wherever it went.
Since then, Rodney has driven his once-struggling Mercedes all over the East Coast, from car shows like SoWo to H2Oi, racking up significant miles while his once-prized Prelude sits patiently awaiting reassembly after a paint job started nearly a year prior. The Prelude’s wheels have been sold, and its future remains uncertain. While Rodney’s Honda days are far from over, he’s still deeply invested in the Mercedes, with plans for a driveline swap topping his list. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect of this whole story is witnessing someone as steadfast as Rodney taking a leap into the unknown and embracing something new. He never imagined himself behind the wheel of an iconic 80s German sports sedan when we first met, but now, I, along with everyone else, eagerly anticipate the next chapter in this unexpected Mercedes-Benz 190E build.
