The Mercedes-Benz W111 Coupé has long been one of the more elegant shapes to come out of Stuttgart. First appearing in 1961, its low roofline, slim pillars, and generous glasshouse have aged remarkably well. Los Angeles-based Kugel Werks has now taken that familiar silhouette and given it a considerably more muscular foundation with the One Eleven.

Rather than retaining the period mechanicals, Kugel builds the car around the platform of the previous-generation Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupé. The body keeps the W111’s basic proportions, but the bonnet is extended, the arches are widened, and the bumpers have been redesigned. Modern LED lighting and 20-inch AMG-inspired wheels bring the look firmly into the present, while much of the original chrome treatment gives way to darker detailing.

The bigger transformation sits underneath. Kugel lists a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 510 hp and 700 Nm, driving the rear wheels through AMG’s seven-speed Speedshift MCT transmission. The donor C63 S also contributes its suspension, brakes, and electronic systems, giving the One Eleven a much more contemporary mechanical base than its 1960s appearance suggests. In that sense, it is closer to a classic-shaped modern GT than a conventional restoration.

Kugel has yet to show the finished cabin in detail, but buyers are offered a bespoke choice of leather, Alcantara, wood, carbon fibre, and other materials. This fits the company’s broader approach, with each One Eleven intended to be individually specified rather than built around a fixed interior package.

Pricing starts at US$480,000, with production described simply as limited. Kugel says deliveries are expected to begin by September 2026.