If Count Dracula’s coffin had an engine, it would be sitting in something just like Clint Wilson’s 1970 Mercedes 280S. This car’s presence is impossible to ignore — the stark contrast between its matte black exterior and rich red leather interior makes it look like a creature of the night, cloaked in style and ready to prowl. Clint found this beast on Gumtree, oddly enough from a seller dealing in exotic birds. Exotic might be putting it lightly.
By: Karl Eriksen
Pics: Black Jet Camaro
Originally painted ivory white, the car’s first repaint was a disaster. The garage tasked with the job completely botched it, and that’s when Clint decided enough was enough — he was going to take matters into his own hands. With some help from his brother and a low-pressure compressor, they gave the car six coats of Plasti-dip in a single day. For the uninitiated, Plasti-dip is a rubberised coating usually used to grip tool handles, but Clint’s clever use transformed the Merc’s finish into something unique and practical. If he ever tires of the look, he can simply peel it off.
Clint wasn’t interested in preserving original factory gloss or authenticity. Instead, he wanted a daily driver that stood out from the crowd. Inspired by an American show called Count’s Customs and the US hot rod and rockabilly scene, he went for a matte finish that demands attention. And attention it gets — even the Maserati drivers seem to take notice when he drops his daughter off at school.
This isn’t Clint’s first Mercedes; he’s owned two others. But this one was a gem straight from the start, with only 70,000 original miles on the clock. It had been sitting idle in a garage for years, but after a fresh battery it fired right up. Clint has added aftermarket Atlas whitewalls that slot neatly around the tyre beads, giving the wheels classic flair without compromising the car’s understated vibe.
Plans for the future include swapping the current inline six for a 4.5-litre Mercedes V8 paired with a floor-shift automatic gearbox. He’s also eyeing an air suspension setup to get that perfect low stance when parked and improve ride comfort.
Inside, Clint takes a patient approach, replacing bits and pieces of the interior as the right parts turn up. Finding spares isn’t a problem — the guy he sold his previous Merc to has plenty stashed away. The original Blaupunkt radio still lives on, working perfectly, while two fans—one front, one rear—keep the air moving, even if Clint jokes they mostly blow hot air around. Down the line, he’d love to add subtle red pinstriping around the wheels and bonnet, and tint the windows for that final touch of menace.
Clint isn’t one for clubs or car shows. He’s happy with his Merc just as it is and figures that the perfectionists who nitpick at meets aren’t his crowd anyway. If he ever buys another car, it’ll definitely be another Mercedes — and you can tell he says it with a grin. Maybe one day the fangs will show, but for now, this devilish ride is content lurking in matte black silence.
