[slomarsh]

Pictures of my shameless re-badge project

You've probably had people ask "who makes that little car?" When you answer with [I]Smart- a division of Daimler Benz [/I]they look at you somewhat in disbelief. "Really? you mean Mercedes?"

Well, I decided to head off some future inquiries. You've seen the Mercedes emblems on Smarts before. In a variety of locations-some tasteful, some in strange locations. I decided to do it but make it look like a factory installation. I am happy with the rear. The front star seems a bit large or perhaps it just needs the horizontal bright metal strikes as on most contemporary Mercedes models. Perhaps not-I'm undecided.

Comments welcome. I'll cover my head and put on a bullet proof vest in advance

 

[smark]

 

[Miss Mercedes]

My 450 has a Mercedes badge up front adhered on by some weird cardboard-nail-gorilla glue-loctite witchcraft, making it impossible to remove without defacing the car. I can't wait until I can figure out how to replace it with a proper period correct smart badge.

When people say about the 450 "Oh wow that's a Mercedes?!?" I say: "It's a smart, a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz".

I find calling it a Mercedes-Benz leads to some awkward conversations where I just end up backpedaling back to calling it a smart anyway.

 

[smark]

My 450 has a Mercedes badge up front adhered on by some weird cardboard-nail-gorilla glue-loctite witchcraft, making it impossible to remove without defacing the car. I can't wait until I can figure out how to replace it with a proper period correct smart badge.

When people say about the 450 "Oh wow that's a Mercedes?!?" I say: "It's a smart, a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz".

What the heck is that screwed on your 451 hood.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

What the heck is that screwed on your 451 hood.

Spotlights!

The 451 is the offroad project. Hopefully I can get what I want without gouging the panels. 0

 

[Tony Margulis]

You've probably had people ask "who makes that little car?" When you answer with [I]Smart- a division of Daimler Benz [/I]they look at you somewhat in disbelief. "Really? you mean Mercedes?"

Well, I decided to head off some future inquiries. You've seen the Mercedes emblems on Smarts before. In a variety of locations-some tasteful, some in strange locations. I decided to do it but make it look like a factory installation. I am happy with the rear. The front star seems a bit large or perhaps it just needs the horizontal bright metal strikes as on most contemporary Mercedes models. Perhaps not-I'm undecided.

Comments welcome. I'll cover my head and put on a bullet proof vest in advance

If you're going to rebadge, at least take the old badge off. The back of your car still has the "smart" badge...this brings up good question, does anyone make a badge that says "fortwo" ?

 

[ElementalDragon]

Spotlights!

Also for making sure the back corners of the hood don't come out. lol

 

[slomarsh]

Actually, I considered deleting the SMART emblem as you point out.. Mercedes models all have the model type on the left where I relocated the SMART emblem. I almost went a step further and considered putting 1.0 Litre along with it. Example Mercedes E 350, GLK 350, etc. On second thought the 1.0 Litre is going a bit far and probably would be hard to find (or make)

 

[slomarsh]

I think the star on your 450 hood looks great. Very exotic looking with the headlights, etc. Looks very factory if you ask me.

 

[slomarsh]

Love it!
Here is my favorite Smartie status commentary so far..............

 

[Miss Mercedes]

I think the star on your 450 hood looks great. Very exotic looking with the headlights, etc. Looks very factory if you ask me.

Thank you!

US federalized 450s have an interesting set of headlights. They are Hella units that meet federal compliance. The actual factory headlights look like this:

That said, you are right, it does look quite exotic! Even compared to the later gens it looks unique.

 

[NCC1701]

... does anyone make a badge that says "fortwo" ?

Not to my knowledge. But, you can buy individual chromed lettering to make your own.
Here's mine:

Maybe the font could be better. But, there's a selection of fonts available. Mine are the smallest I found. 8.5 years later, they've survived the weather better than some other parts of the car.

 

[slomarsh]

Wow! I like it. Your burgundy colored 450 looks great too-a unique color. What engine did 450s like yours come with? Sorry for my ignorance but I am a relatively new owner and familiar with the 451 but not other models.

Thanks,
slomarsh

 

[Tony Margulis]

Enterprise,
I like the badges. I may have to do something similar.

 

[vadsoom]

When asked who made my little car, I just tell people it’s a Mercedes. I had a an tell me, “THAT is not a Mercedes!”

I told her, “It sure is! In Germany, they all start out this way. I’m just hoping this one grows up to be a SL600.”

It usually gets a decent laugh.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

Quite an interesting video from the smart - 2012 Paris Motor Show Published on Jan 31, 2014

Within the first 30 seconds it shows
"Press Information Mercedes-Benz"
"Press Information MAYBACH"
"Press Information smart"
followed by "Mercedes-Benz Cars"
Sure seems like MB has taken ownership of smart. Seems like smart has a Mercedes-Benz pedigree to me.

I like the exterior styling of the forstar model. I could do without the projector.

 

[Smart Bob]

This is the car smart should have built and offered as a companion model to the 453 in the US. I concur that the projector isn't necessary.