Mercedes-Drenz

This 1986 Cosworth-powered Mercedes-Benz 2.3-16 is owned by NYCars. It was found abandoned in the bush just outside of Melbourne, glass broken and a tree growing out of it a couple of years ago. They soon set about sourcing all the hard-to-find Cosworth parts and got it running with mostly original parts other than the Titan lowered springs and Ronal Aero 16 wheels. 

The exterior however, was too far gone. Enter Drez, a Melbourne-based street artist who uses gradient repeated lines to create a sense of movement with his work, an aesthetic that was perfect for the 80s box-flare design of the Mercedes. So inspired by the art cars of the 70s and 80s, Drez hand-painted the car, applying colour using acrylic by brush over a 14-day period.

The car was finished with an acrylic clear coat, and it's now on the road as an official art car throwback. The 'Mercedes-Drenz' will make its debut at the Black Label Invitational car show in Melbourne on Sunday 28th February 2022.

Photos © NYCars