Alan Iwamoto's Blue Boar Mercedes 300 SEL Build
A custom builder created a widebody, turbocharged Mercedes 300 SEL on a Corvette chassis to outdo the legendary AMG Red Pig race car.
Alan Iwamoto built a radical custom car from a rusty 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL. His creation, dubbed the Blue Boar, is a hand-built widebody machine designed to outperform and outshine the legendary 1971 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.8 AMG known as the Red Pig.
Iwamoto's starting point was a rotted-out example of the luxury sedan. He did not see a candidate for a conventional restoration. Instead, through his Smokedogg Customs workshop, he initiated what the source describes as a complete reinvention of the car.
The Red Pig Inspiration
The project's spiritual origin is the Red Pig. That was the factory-backed AMG racing saloon that famously competed at Spa in 1971. Iwamoto loved the story but not the typical race car aesthetic. He wanted a car capable of similar performance but with show-quality details and comfort. "I like things clean and love details," Iwamoto told Classic Driver. His goal was a machine suitable for both track performance and casual events.
A Hand-Built Transformation
Iwamoto's modifications are extensive and executed without modern digital fabrication tools. He constructed a full tube chassis to accept the subframes and drivetrain from a C6 Chevrolet Corvette. The car's roofline was lowered by three inches. The most visually striking change is the entirely hand-formed widebody kit. The source notes the difficulty of widening the car dramatically while preserving its original Mercedes-Benz lines.
Every panel was shaped by hand. The build used no 3D printers or CNC machines. This approach made the project a significant labour of love for the builder.
Powertrain and Performance Details
The engine is a Chevrolet 6.0-litre LS V8, chosen for its durability and tuning potential. Iwamoto fitted twin 62mm turbochargers inside the car's stacked headlight housings, a functional and clever design detail. Power is sent through a T56 six-speed manual transmission. The transmission and differential are mounted at the rear, in a layout similar to a modern Mercedes SLS AMG.
The car also features suicide doors, an addition Iwamoto made simply because he admired them on classic luxury cars. Despite its elaborate appearance, the builder insists the Blue Boar is built for real use. The splitters, suspension, and drivetrain are all configured for performance, not only static display.
For Iwamoto, looking good and going fast are not separate goals. They are the same objective. The Blue Boar is his personal interpretation of a legendary motorsport underdog, reimagined as a detailed and usable custom creation.
