Read the backstory and the motivation behind one of the most popular recent builds in the Bay Area car community
A head-turner in the Bay Area car scene lately, this 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE body on the chassis of a 2011 BMW 335d—nicknamed ‘Maude’—was built by Spencer Bane. Maude is best described as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, often causing major cognitive dissonance amongst the people who notice the interior of the car once they get closer. VALT sat down with the creator of Maude to dig deeper into his automotive journey, and how the build came to be. As is the performance of the car, the story is more than skin deep.
When did you first get interested in cars and what/who were your influences?
I have been interested in cars for as long as I can remember. I was drawing cars when I was old enough to hold a crayon. I went to car shows with my grandfather and father as a kid, and always nerded out on all things cars. I knew all the specs of my favorite cars growing up. I watched Power Block on Saturday mornings instead of cartoons. I bought my first car before I could drive and learned to work on it until I could. I was really into domestic muscle cars when I was a kid. I really wanted a 1968 Camaro for the longest time, but I have grown to appreciate fast sedans and wagons since then.
Tell us about the Maude project.
Maude is a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE (W108) body on the chassis of a 2011 BMW 335d (E90, diesel). It’s a concept called body swapping, or chassis swapping, where you get the combination of old styling with modern technology and performance.
What does a day with Maude look like? What’s your most memorable drive/experience so far?
No matter where we go, Maude gets all of the attention. I can’t park her without at least a few people stopping to stare, and scratch their head a bit. A lot of people know the car from seeing it online and have to pull over to say something. She definitely has an undeniable presence. When you see her, you know it has to be “that car”.
How special is it to own a one-of-kind build?
It’s pretty cool, I have to admit. The fact that I built this car with my own hands, on a budget, and she keeps up just fine with modern performance cars that cost ten times what I have invested. Worth every penny, and every busted knuckle. I will say that there are two other people I am aware of who are now attempting to build their own, and that is pretty awesome. The fact that I am able to inspire others is what this is all about. Full circle.
Whom do you look up to in this community?
I love this community, and everything about it. I was following many people before I built my car that I admired greatly, and now I get to hang out and share car stories with some of them. I look up to all those who inspire others. I don’t need to name names- you know who you are. Especially those who are pioneers in body-swapping.
What are some of the most outstanding experiences/opportunities you’ve had being in the Mercedes/BMW/DIY community?
Where do I start? I thought I would be angering more people than I have. Both Mercedes and BMW lovers enjoy this car, and I call that a win. Anything to bring the community together, share common ground and spark a conversation that might inspire new ideas is what I am looking for. I am not a purist, by any means. I just love rare cars, stupid cars, and mostly diesel powered cars. So I made a stupid, diesel powered, one-off.
Is there any part of your car that you don’t enjoy?
She’s wild, therefore, exhausting. It’s tiring to drive this car because I’m constantly thinking about keeping her under control. All that power, with no traction control and rear-wheel drive makes for a fun (but sometimes scary) time. I have spun out several times because of loss of traction on wet roads or on loose gravel. Otherwise, she handles very well but I still need to focus on driving technique more often than I would in most other cars.
Your top 3 cars to own? What are some build ambitions on your mind?
That’s a challenge to answer. I have owned about 23 cars so far in my life, but I’m not sure I have owned my dream cars yet. I suppose, if I won the lottery and had to buy three cars tomorrow, I would want a Mercedes W210 wagon with a turbo diesel OM606, manual swapped. I would love a Ferrari 348, but I also have the insane idea to diesel swap one someday. I am trying to figure out what my next build will be. I have a lot of ideas, but one I am leaning toward is a Datsun 510 wagon with TDI swap. One car I will own someday is my grandfather’s ’49 Cadillac that I fell in love with as a kid. I just need to convince Grandma to let me take it.
What is your current daily, and what is your dream daily?
My “daily” is a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, TDI and 6 speed manual, with a few tasteful mods to make her perform a bit better than most would expect. I really like this car. A lot. 60 mpg highway, and a blast on the backroads. I can’t ask for much more than that. She also looks great, while blending in with regular traffic. My dream daily might be this car, at least for now.
What are your future goals with Maude, and other automotive goals beyond Maude?
Maude is actually for sale right now. I am tempted to build another one, similar but better. Take my time and do everything “right”. My goals are constantly shifting, but I want to keep building fun cars that inspire others.
What advice do you have for someone aspiring to make a build like yours?
Take your time. Do your research. Ask all the questions. Don’t be afraid of being the first to do something. It’s worth it, if it means you get to express yourself creatively, have fun with your creations and inspire others. You only YOLO once.
Photos by Vijay Sankar