When you hear the word “gasser” you probably picture a Tri Five Chevy with headers hanging down while the rest of the car rides high in the sky or maybe a Willy’s with that pointed nose aiming towards the clouds and a barrel gas tank strapped to the front. Interestingly when Kevin Clarke thinks of a gasser it has a little more class but still all the trash because it is a 1968 Mercedes 250s. It may be hard to imagine anything other than an older sophisticated gentleman with a pressed suit and a gray curly mustache driving this car but I don’t think old men are laying patches of smoldering rubber with their Mercedes. So how does a car known as ‘tank like’ with a pinch of sophistication become a high riding, in your face, tire destroying gasser?

The idea for the build was formulated like all crazy ideas - sitting around talking to friends. Kevin says he and his friends were hanging out one day and all just started to throw out crazy ideas for off-the-wall builds. After hours of spitballing ideas, they had a checklist of the rules for the build. The checklist was an easy one: the car had to be cheap, have ownership papers, and be completed only on spare time and with spare funds / spare parts.

Kevin already had some other projects on the go like a 73’ Camaro when this new idea came to fruition. At the time he was at the dreaded stage in any build where there were only high-dollar parts left to buy. While looking for parts for his Camaro he started to look for cheap luxury cars to bring his and his friends' late-night idea to life. Banged-up Bentleys and rough Rolls Royces were at the top of all his searches. After some scrolling, a 1968 Mercedes Benz 250s appeared in the list of cars. The car was perfect for the wacky idea and Kevin would have no shame modifying this old beauty. Plus the car was within driving distance in a rural town in Northern British Columbia, so why not take a chance on it he thought.

What fun is a road trip to pick up a new project without dragging some friends into it. After some convincing Kevin’s best friend Coleby agreed to tag along for the trip. Now only a nine and a half hour drive down dirt roads stood between them and the Mercedes.

With no cell service and a bunch of strange people gathering around one of the sketchiest transactions Kevin has ever done was complete. After hastily loading the car to get out of dodge, Kevin and his friends had the shell for their idea.

After staring at the car for some time Kevin needed to get something done on the car to motivate himself to really start the build. He decided he might as well ask Coleby to help him paint the livery on the car to officially start the build and motivate himself.

Thus “High Class” was born out of an old forgotten Mercedes. Not long after painting the livery Kevin got a phone call nobody ever wants to get. A driver ran a stop sign and hit Coleby while he was riding his motorcycle. Coleby tragically passed away due to the accident. (P.s don’t drive distract or anything else stupid! Give motorcyclists their space and respect!)

Kevin said “After Coleby’s funeral I figured I owed him to finish the last project he touched.” Returning to the checklist Kevin scavenged whatever he could off his own projects and others cars to get ‘High class’ running and driving. High class sits on a 1994 Chevy S10 frame with a big supercharger perched atop a 395 ci small block Chevy. Power is pushed through a TH350 transmission into a 8.8 inch Ford rear end.

High Class has become a rolling memory of a loved best friend. The car has been able to reinforce old memories and capture new memories along the way. High Class has done everything from drag racing all the way to long distance road trips. Kevin says “It has been more than a car… It has been therapy, a distraction when things get rough, a conversation piece, and I want to thank everyone who has helped and whom I’ve met along the way.”

Link Garage

Follow Kevin:

Instagram: kc_speedshop

Special Thanks to Shane O’Leary for allowing me to use some of his amazing photos in the arcitle!

Follow Shane:

Instagram: shaneolearyimages

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