S-Klub LA, a private Coach design studio in southern California, builds and designs artistic automobiles. They’re individually unique and one-of-a-kind, and S-Klub decided that it was time to take their retro touch and put it on a Tesla Model 3.
Tesla rebuilds – using the motors and batteries – are extremely popular with retro car modders. It’s an easy way to have a highly performant vehicle – without needing to hunt down or hand-produce old parts for vehicles that aren’t made anymore. Additionally – this leaves them with a lot more space on the inside and less maintenance to perform. Some modders even go as far as including a speaker to emulate engine noises.
But this rebuild is a bit more unique… Let’s get into it.
Mercedes 300SL or Model 3?
The base body is actually a Mercedes 300SL, with some modifications made to fit the battery, motors, and computers of a Model 3. Interestingly, this isn’t actually a real Mercedes 300SL body, but rather a fiberglass replica. The car was previously displayed at Specialty Equipment Market Association (of the automotive aftermarket) – or SEMA SHOW 2023 in Las Vegas.
The Tiffany 300 SL, as it’s named by S-Klub LA, took some extensive work to build, with many of the parts hand-made and hand-designed to build a convincing classic Gullwing body.
The Tiffany moniker comes from the fashion brand Tiffany Co – it’s their brand Tiffany Green and Blue that decorates this car inside out. The car drives and is fully functional, which is definitely a testament to the team’s engineering skills.
The interior, in Tiffany colours, replete with Tesla steering wheel and central screen.
Not a Tesla App
Mercedes With FSD?
The folks at S-Klub LA did go through the work of re-installing the Autopilot Cameras and re-using the main Tesla infotainment and Autopilot computers – something that very few retro EV-modders do. This vehicle is definitely more Model 3 than Mercedes – the steering wheel and steering rack, as well as the entire central infotainment system are still intact.
According to the listing information – because yes, you could buy this thing if you wanted – since all the cameras and sensors are intact, it is possible to enable Autopilot on this vehicle. We’re not sure exactly how well that would work – considering the positions of the cameras are likely no longer the same as the original Model 3, the wheelbase has been changed, and the car is an entirely different shape.
We definitely would not recommend trying this vehicle with Autopilot - especially given how long it takes Tesla to simply get AP working on a new vehicle chassis like the Cybertruck - which won’t get FSD or AP until V12.5.
Another shot of the
Not a Tesla App
Definitely Retro
It’s absolutely an original vehicle – that we can say for sure. The Gullwing 300SL is quite a popular vehicle – a 1955 300SL recently sold in 2022 for $6.8 million at RM Sotheby’s auction – but that was an intact, original vehicle, not a replica hull built over a Model 3.
S-Klub LA doesn’t actually list any prices for their one-of-a-kind vehicles, but if for some reason you love Tifanny colors and the idea of a 1955 Gullwing with semi-functional Tesla Autopilot, you can check out their store page.
Build Process
You can check out a video recap of their build process here.
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The Cybertruck is having an eventful November. Just last week, we shared the news that Tesla isn’t offering their in-house wrap service for the Cybertruck anymore; the Foundation Series is now available in inventory in select US locations, Crossbars have arrived, and faster charging is around the corner. Now there’s even more to discuss about the stainless steel beast.
Projection Puddle Lights
Like the recently launched puddle lights for the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has introduced a set of add-on Projector Puddle Lights for the Cybertruck. These Cybertruck-specific ones go for $75 USD, or $105 CAD and are available in both the Canadian and US Tesla stores.
However, these don’t have the Tesla wordmark - instead, they feature the iconic Cybertruck symbol and, in our opinion, look even nicer. Here’s to hoping Tesla also introduces a set with the graffiti-style Cybertruck wordmark.
Powershare in Canada
While the Foundation Series Cybertruck has been getting delivered in Canada since November 7th, there was no news on Powershare being supported due to regulatory constraints. On the 20th, Foundation Series owners in Canada began to receive emails to get their Powershare installs started through Tesla’s official installer - Qmerit.
More to follow on pricing and the process as we receive our Canadian quote from Qmerit soon.
FSD in Canada
The Cybertruck Program Manager, Siddhant Awasthi, confirmed that with Powershare now becoming available, FSD for the Cybertruck in Canada will also become available soon. Canadian trucks shipped with a factory software build that didn’t include FSD, but did include TACC and stoplight/traffic control.
Early this morning Tesla began rolling out a new version of FSD 12.5.5.3 for the Cybertruck, which is update 2024.39.5. Will this be the version that rolls out in Canada?
Following Integrated Flight Test 6 for SpaceX’s Starship, Elon Musk confirmed that uncrewed Starships are likely to begin making their way to Mars in about 2 years. You’re probably going to ask what’s going to be in those Starships - that’s what Brett Winston on X asked as well. Elon confirmed that Cybertrucks and Optimus robots will be among some of the first items landing on Mars.
That’s a ton of awesome news for Cybertruck, and there’s absolutely going to be more around the corner, especially as we await the big Tesla Holiday Update. While you wait, why not take a look at our Holiday Update Wishlists?
Tesla software update 2024.44.3 has started rolling out to customers in larger waves recently and it brings several new features - including Actually Smart Summon to Europe and the Middle East, as well as improvements to Autopark. But that’s not all, it also adds a new Blind Spot Monitoring feature to the new Model 3, and potentially the Cybertruck, but that’s still to be determined.
We previously covered the Blind Spot Warning While Parked as part of our preview notes for update 2024.44, but now that it's going out to customers, it's time to see it in action.
If the vehicle’s door open button is pressed, and a vehicle or object is near or incoming, the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning Light (2024 Model 3 and Cybertruck) will illuminate, an audible tone will ring and the door won’t open. A message will also be displayed on the center displaying, letting driver’s know why the door didn’t open.
Pressing the button a second time will allow you to override the warning and open the door normally, providing a way to get out in case you just parked close to a nearby vehicle or obstacle.
The object detection for this new feature includes cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects - like things including traffic cones, bollards, strollers, and other large obstacles that FSD and vision-based Autopark detect during normal operation. Of note - this only works for the front two doors. Thanks to X user Max, who did some testing for us, It does not work for the rear passenger doors.
Optional Feature
The feature is optional - it’ll be enabled by default for safety, but if you need to enable or disable it, you can do so under Controls > Safety. For now, the feature is only available on the 2024 Model 3, but we expect it to roll out to the Cybertruck at least. However, there’s no reason why it can’t be added to other vehicles as well, minus the small red dot. We expect Tesla to eventually add this feature to all Tesla vehicles, but it’s currently not a part of update 2024.44.
Enhauto’s S3XY Buttons & Commander
If that’s not enough safety and vision for you, Enhauto, the makers of the popular S3XY Buttons and Commander recently put out a new software update for the 2024 Model 3, which makes some fantastic use of the ambient lighting.
With Enhauto’s solution, users are able to tie their ambient lights to Autopilot use, turn signals or even if a vehicle is their blind spot. Check out the video below for this awesome implementation, where the ambient lights turn red when another vehicle approaches.
Maybe Tesla will integrate something like this into a future update? We’ve been hoping for more customizability with their ambient lighting - it's an easy safety win and a demonstration of Tesla’s do-more-with-less attitude.
I look forward to @enhauto updates more than Tesla...
Ambient light effects....
I set default color to white. Blinks green on turn signals Turns blue on FSD activation Yellow if someone in blind spot Blinks red if turn signal on and blind spot activity detected.
![First Look at Tesla’s New 'Blind Spot While Parked' Feature [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/model-3-2024/blind-spot-indicator-monitor.jpg/4cdcb11af7b1c7cf021ba96588fd4f1a/blind-spot-indicator-monitor.jpg)
![Elon talks about Twitter and job cuts at Bloomberg forum [video]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/images/news/2022/elon-musk-qatar-forum_300w.jpg)
