“My plan was to build the smallest car from the 1980s and 1990s (from Mercedes) with the biggest engine of that era.” That is how Johan Muter, a Dutchman and the owner of JM Speedshop, explains his idea of pairing the original baby-Benz-the revered Mercedes-Benz 190-with the M 120, the star brand’s first production V12, launched in the W140 S-Class.
It is a project that is equal parts intriguing and captivating. It began in 2016 and was documented in far greater depth through a YouTube series-more than 50 videos-on his JMSpeedshop channel. It was a demanding undertaking: three and a half years to finish, representing more than 1500 hours of work.
The donor Mercedes-Benz 190 is a 1984 car, imported from Germany in 2012, and it originally came with the 2.0 l four-cylinder (M 102), still running a carburettor. To move the build forward, the first step was sourcing a V12-eventually taken from a long-wheelbase S 600 (W140).
Muter says the S600 already had 100,000 kilometres on it and needed plenty of attention (the chassis required repairs and some electronic components were missing). The drivetrain, however, was in good condition-so the complex “transplant” could begin.
A deep transformation
The list of changes required to make the V12 fit the 190-and cope with its extra firepower-was extensive, starting with a newly fabricated front subframe and custom engine mounts.
Beyond that, the build became something of a raid on Mercedes-Benz original parts. From the “sacrificed” S 600, the fans, transmission cooler radiator, differential and rear axle were also reused, along with the propshafts (shortened). The five-speed automatic gearbox came from a 1996 CL600; the front braking system from an SL 500 (R129) and the rear from an E 320 (W210)-both upgraded with Brembo discs and callipers-while the steering was also taken from a W210.
To finish it off, there are new 18-inch wheels that look enormous on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190. They come from a W220 S-Class and are wrapped in 225 mm-wide tyres at the front and 255 mm at the rear. And, as the old tyre slogan goes, “power is nothing without control”: this 190 V12 has had its suspension comprehensively reworked, now running a coilover kit-allowing damping and ride height adjustment-along with dedicated bushes.
A (slightly) more powerful V12
The undisputed centrepiece is the M 120: Mercedes-Benz’s first production V12, launched with 6.0 l of displacement producing 408 cv, later reduced to 394 cv after a few years.
Muter also focused heavily on the engine management, especially the ECU (engine control unit). It is now a new VEMS V3.8 unit, calibrated to optimise the engine for E10 (98-octane petrol), which-according to Muter-raises output slightly, to around 424 cv.
The automatic transmission’s electronic control unit was also reconfigured to deliver quicker shifts when driving more… enthusiastically. As a further extra, the car even gained shift paddles, taken from a W204-generation C-Class.
Even with this colossal engine installed, the Mercedes-Benz 190 V12 tips the scales at just 1440 kg (with a full tank), with 56% of the total weight over the front axle. As you can probably guess, this is a very fast baby-Benz. How fast? The next video answers that question.
Muter says that despite the performance, the car is very easy-and very enjoyable-to drive. As shown in the video, it takes under five seconds to reach 100 km/h and just over 15 s to hit 200 km/h. Considering this is 1990s hardware not designed for serious high-speed runs, that is noteworthy. The theoretical top speed is 310 km/h, although its creator (and still the owner) says he has not taken it beyond 250 km/h.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
If it were not for the mega wheels-at least that is how these 18-inch rims look on the small saloon-this 190 V12 could almost blend into everyday traffic. Still, there are tell-tale details beyond the wheels that make it clear this is no ordinary 190. The most obvious are the two circular air inlets positioned where the fog lights used to be. Even the twin exhaust outlets-part of a bespoke Magnaflow system-remain fairly discreet, given what this 190 is hiding.
Those with eagle eyes may also spot that, despite being a 1984 car, this 190 wears all the facelift elements introduced in 1988. Inside, there are changes too, though most are subtle. For instance, the leather upholstery comes from a 1987 190 E 2.3-16.
The understated look-neatly completed by the chosen paintwork, a blue/grey combination (both colours taken from a Mercedes-Benz catalogue)-is entirely intentional and perfectly matches the builder’s taste. He prefers cars that do not reveal everything they have, which unquestionably suits this 190.
Nearly €69,000!
This one-off Mercedes-Benz 190 V12 is now being sold by Muter himself for approximately €69,000.
Whether that is too much is for you to decide. However, for anyone interested in the conversion but not keen on this 190’s restrained styling, Muter says he can fit a different body kit-such as the more extravagant 190 EVO 1 and EVO 2-style options. He is also considering adding electric windows front and rear-the builder’s work is never really finished.
To see this unique machine in more detail, Muter recently published a video in which he showcases the 190 V12 and walks viewers through the modifications carried out:
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