The Mercedes-Benz W111 Coupe is widely regarded as one of the prettiest Mercedes designs of its era. Kugel Werks apparently looked at those elegant 1960s proportions and decided they needed wider fenders, modern LEDs, huge wheels, and a 510-horsepower AMG V8.
The result is the Kugel One Eleven, a coachbuilt creation inspired by the classic W111 but based on much newer Mercedes-AMG hardware. Underneath its retro bodywork is the platform and mechanical package from the previous-generation C63 S Coupe.
That means buyers get the appearance of a heavily modified 1960s Mercedes without having to live with 1960s performance, brakes, suspension, or electronics. It is an unusual combination, and the aggressive styling certainly won’t appeal to everyone.
Kugel Werks says production will be deliberately limited, with each example extensively customized for its owner. Pricing reportedly starts at $480,000, putting this retro-modern Mercedes firmly into exotic-car territory.
A W111 That Went To The Gym
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Kugel hasn’t simply recreated the original W111 body and dropped it onto a newer chassis. The company has substantially reworked the classic shape, including extending the hood, widening the fenders, redesigning the bumpers, and fitting contemporary lighting at both ends.
The traditional chrome-heavy appearance is also gone. Glossy black detailing, deep side skirts, dual exhaust outlets, and large modern wheels give the One Eleven a considerably more sinister appearance than the graceful original.
There are still obvious W111 cues, including the upright grille, long hood, thin pillars, and sweeping coupe roofline. From there, however, the One Eleven looks almost like someone imagined what a W111-based German touring car might have looked like several decades after the original disappeared.
There’s A C63 S Hiding Underneath
The really interesting part is what Kugel has put beneath that body. Rather than attempting to modernize an original W111 chassis, the company says the One Eleven is built around the previous-generation Mercedes-AMG C63 S.
That gives it AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 510 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Power reaches the rear wheels through a seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT transmission.
The donor car also supplies modern suspension, brakes, and electronic systems. Consequently, the One Eleven should behave much closer to a 2020s performance coupe than a restored Mercedes designed when the Beatles were still playing clubs.
Using the V8-powered C63 S is particularly appropriate now that Mercedes-AMG has moved its current C63 to a turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Kugel’s creation therefore combines two increasingly nostalgic pieces of Mercedes history: classic W111 styling and AMG’s thunderous V8 C-Class formula.
The Interior Will Be Just As Modern
Kugel has yet to show the finished interior, leaving some mystery around exactly how much of the C63 S cabin will survive the transformation. Its previous Mercedes project incorporated substantial portions of its modern AMG donor’s dashboard, digital displays, and seating.
Customers will have plenty of influence over the finished product regardless. Kugel says buyers can specify their preferred exterior color and select from materials including leather, Alcantara, wood, and carbon fiber for the cabin.
That approach makes sense for something costing nearly half a million dollars. At this price, owners will probably expect considerably greater personalization than choosing between a few upholstery colors and wheel designs.
A $480,000 Mercedes For People Who Want Something Different
Kugel Werks says every One Eleven will be individually crafted and that production will be limited, although it hasn’t specified exactly how many examples it intends to make. Deliveries are reportedly scheduled to begin in 2026.
The starting price is said to be $480,000, which is serious money for something based on a previous-generation C63 S, although the price is clearly paying for the extensive coachbuilding and customization rather than simply the AMG hardware underneath.
Whether the One Eleven improves upon Paul Bracq’s original design is an entirely different discussion. The classic W111 was understated and beautifully proportioned, while Kugel’s interpretation is wider, lower, darker, and far more aggressive.
There is little chance of confusing the two once they’re parked side by side. For someone who loves the W111 silhouette but wants the performance and usability of a modern AMG, however, the One Eleven offers a combination Mercedes itself was never likely to build.