A pick-up based on the world’s most successful luxury limousine? Yes, it’s possible. This Mercedes S-Class W140 pick-up is derived from a hearse and is based on the Mercedes S 320 with a 231 hp inline 6-cylinder engine and manual gearbox.
Mercedes had the X-Class pickup in its catalog between November 2017 and May 2020 but it didn’t make a hit. Based on the Nissan Navara, it was extremely expensive and its production was stopped after less than three years.
But now a Romanian had the idea to develop a pick-up from an S-Class. Okay, not from an S-Class limousine, but from an S-Class death car. Our entrepreneur dismantled the top dome, cut off the roof, fitted some wooden guards to the bucket, and replaced the tailgate with a typical pick-up tailgate.
A major change was made to the interior. In the hearse version, the space for the front passengers was very tight due to the need for enough room in the back to carry a coffin.
Our entrepreneur moved the glass wall behind the seats further back to increase the interior space.
The suspension has not been modified as it involves too much complexity, and therefore, the payload is no higher than that of a normal S-Class W140.
The car is powered by a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder that produces 231 hp, and power to the rear wheels is transmitted through a 5-speed manual transmission.
Next to the driver’s right leg is a gearbox that allows the car to travel at a very low speed when attending a funeral ceremony and a funeral cortege is marching behind the car.
I have driven this car on a circuit and the impressions are fascinating. You can see that a Continental tractor tire has been anchored in the bucket. The rear is very light and it was necessary to place a load on the rear axle to provide sufficient traction. However, it’s a good idea not to jerk the steering in corners and accelerate at the same time, as the car will then become oversteer.
The inline 6-cylinder engine has plenty of torque and accelerates sovereignly from low revs. The large-diameter steering wheel is typical of the W140 generation, the steering is fluid but quite indirect, and the gearbox shifts relatively awkwardly with some signs of wear.
The 5.11-meter-long pick-up can reach a top speed of 230 km/h but we don’t recommend you give it a try. The bed isn’t too high but it has a generous surface area and is ideal if you want to go on vacation. You can put up a tent, folding beds, sleeping bags, etc. The Mercedes S-Class W140 pick-up is a unique model that combines the high-class ride comfort and low noise level of a luxury limousine with the practicality of a pick-up.
