There have been some incredible automobiles in the marketplace on the finish of the Nineteen Eighties.
Japan was in its sports activities automobile stride, America was out of the Malaise period (fortunately), and the German arms race was on for DTM supremacy. Mercedes-Benz’s entrant to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters fray was the Cosworth-developed 190 E 2.3-16 (and later 2.5-16 and Evo variants).
Dougie McColm‘s 1990 190 E 2.5-16 stood out to me underneath the Telford Worldwide Centre’s new LED lights. Partly as a result of it was a Mercedes-Benz at a Volkswagen present, but additionally as a result of it appeared to suit my transient for ‘easy methods to modify a cult automobile’ completely.
For instance, you don’t want to overdo it. Particularly when the bottom automobile is as fascinating as Dougie’s is.
Ok.I.S.S. (Preserve it easy, silly) is a dying artwork within the car-modifying world. Many builders are doing increasingly more to face out, and when that occurs, they typically lose sight of what drew them to a specific automobile within the first place.
“I deliberate to create an Evo-II kitted 190 E, however I fell for it [this genuine 2.5.16] as a typical automobile and determined to make it the straightest 190 E round,” Dougie defined.
That’s why it’s had a full respray within the authentic color, as a substitute of a wild hue. Delicate additions add additional depth to the outside, with a STEVS Design rear spoiler ‘crown’, Evo I entrance splitter, and Evo II rear window spoiler – all in carbon fibre. I mustn’t overlook the period-correct Heko wind deflectors, both.
Tucked into the flared wheel arches courtesy of an Air Elevate Efficiency 3P suspension system are 18-inch AMG monoblock wheels, which have a refined twist on the unique end by pairing metallic silver faces with brushed lips.
Slightly nip-and-tuck underneath the pores and skin was required to drop the Benz as little as doable; the W201 isn’t essentially the most simple platform to slam to the bottom.
The true speaking level of this automobile is the inside, although, and for good cause.
“I needed some refined carbon fibre components and the colourful, period-correct Recaro Orange Spectrum cloth inside for distinction. I purchased the material earlier than I bought the automobile,” says Dougie with fun.
Look previous the orange seat inserts, and also you’ll discover some quite sudden touches. Impressed by the Cosworth 190 E’s motorsport heritage, there are lashings of satin-finish carbon fibre throughout the cabin.
Not solely have all the inside accent trims been changed with the composite materials – additionally sourced from STEVS Design in Canada – however your entire door playing cards are in carbon too.
I’m normally a traditionalist with interiors – give me some tender leather-based and wealthy wooden any day – however the match and end in Dougie’s 190 E is solely phenomenal.
Additional accents such because the Recaro Orange Spectrum fabric-trimmed door pulls and centre insert within the Momo four-spoke steering wheel tie in with the orange OEM needles within the sprint clocks, the orange backlit gauges within the centre console, and the orange seat belts.
The centrepiece of the inside is the Air Elevate Efficiency 3P controller, mounted to the again of a vivid orange Recreation Boy controller. Touches like these remind us that we should always have enjoyable with our automobiles, irrespective of how ‘severe’ the construct is.
“On the Le Mans Traditional final 12 months, a real 190 E Evo II pulled into the petrol station behind us, and I made a decision I wanted a 190 E on my life. This wasn’t meant to be an enormous undertaking, so I name it my ‘Challenge not-a-project!’”
Dougie is definitely a fanatic on the subject of his builds, his W108 undertaking being well-known throughout the UK automobile scene and his Vauxhall-powered and carbon-accented Mini earlier than that. It’s good to see Dougie’s enthusiasm isn’t waning, even when his concept of a ‘tame’ construct is totally different to most.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn
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