Our friends over at Motor Trend have released another episode of “Head 2 Head,” revealing a face-off between the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S Wagon and the ICON Derelict. For only a moment, you’d think the Mercedes would be the obvious winner. That is, up until you take a second to look at the details of both cars, and realize the old rusty looking wagon may actually be the more interesting choice. You tell us.
The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S may be Mercedes-Benz’s best wagon on the market, as well as the rarest. The only way to buy one is via special order straight from Germany. The wagon is AWD and features all of the luxury features we expect from Mercedes. Beyond the convenient comfort and intriguing sport design, this prodigy of a Benz boasts 577 hp and 590 ft-lbs of torque from a 5.5-Liter twin-turbo V8. The power is sent through the seven-speed automatic transmission to the 33%/66% front/rear performance oriented AWD system. The result is menacing; it makes the wagon into a borderline supercar, reaching 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds and taking titles on quarter mile drag strips.
The Icon Derelict, on the other hand, is just as “cool,” but from a different perspective. While the 0-60 time may be nearly 2 seconds slower, as with the quarter mile time, the Derelict gets a mean engine within an old body that is one of a kind in any generation. Anybody old or young may not think much of this 1952 Chrysler Town & Country, that is until they get close enough to realize exactly how unique it is. Minor touches, such as a golden tooth in the front grill, a coolant overflow container replaced by a whiskey bottle and an ICON lizard crafted by a jeweler on the hood, take this rare classic to new levels of uniqueness. These things are only some of the minor touches; others consist of old parts added to new parts under the hood. Giving the Derelict’s 6.1-Liter Hemi V8, which produces 460 hp and 450 ft-lbs of torque, an older look added to the new.
For the similar price tags of $110,195 (Mercedes) and $140,000 (Derelict), deciding which car to spend six figures on may be troubling. The Mercedes may be luxurious, but the Derelict is not only rare, but hand built to be unlike like any other. Watching the video below, you can see how truly fun it is to drive. The real preference comes down to who you are, but old or young, there is no doubt that the Derelict is simply “cool.”
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(Source: MotorTrend.com)
