Welcome to the build!

This site is dedicated to the construction of my 1929 Mercedes Gazelle 

Of course, it's not an original, like I could afford that! It's a "Kit Car" that was originally made in 1977 and sold for $4,779.00 to the gentleman I purchased it from.

He also bought a donor VW Beetle and registered everything. He even got the tags and it's registered as a California Non-Op right now.

This is basically a new car. The first owner did a lot of the work already but never fully assembled it. There's 2 miles on the odometer and that was probably factory testing.

I've decided to go with a Candy Apple Red body with Midnight Black fenders and a single thick line of white pin striping. The seats and top are black. 

There's a place a block away from me called "Victoria Supply" and it's chock full of brass! I plan on spending a couple hundred there on bright work and accent pieces. I love the mix of richness and a Circus/Steampunk feel with the Candy Apple Red.

Gas or Electric?

I haven't decided if I want a 1600 VW crate engine, a Porsche engine, or an electric motor. In order of cost it would be; Crate, Electric, Porsche.

Each has advantages but electric would open a lot of possibilities while also limit usability. Electric cars are for city driving and short runs mostly.

I'm also toying with the idea of a parallel hybrid. Putting a small gas motor in to charge the batteries. It wouldn't be 1 to 1, as in it still wouldn't run forever, but it would extend the range and also allow for desert or camping use. The generator would charge the car and run camping gear.


An XE3 Project

XE3 has been an entertainment industry staple since 1981.
We have built props, sets, infrastructure buildings and venues all over the world and worked in television, movies and live theatre for over 25 years.