There's a fine balancing act when creating a restomod because builders have to make modern upgrades without taking away the essence that makes a particular vehicle so special. North Carolina’s Retro Designs has gotten the recipe nearly perfect with its reimagined 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE. From the outside, you'd never know that a modern, naturally aspirated Mercedes V8 is now under the hood.Retro Designs The stock-appearing exterior conceals a few upgrades, actually. There's now modern LED lighting and a shaved sunroof. There are new billet wheels that match the look of the original pieces, but there are floating hubcaps so that the Mercedes star emblem is always oriented the right way. The gorgeous emerald color is Axalta Chromax XP Irish Green, and the work includes chrome and brightwork, giving the body an extra shine.Check out The Drop at our companion site HotCars for a chance to win the Vyper Elite Trio Package, a premium set of garage chairs!The idea somewhat evokes the machine that made AMG famous. At the 1971 24 Hours of Spa, AMG entered a tuned Mercedes 300 SEL sedan with a 6.8-liter V8. The car's large size and red paint earned it the nickname "The Red Pig" and was a major stepping stone for AMG, which would eventually become an official part of Mercedes-Benz. Classic Mercedes Looks With V8 Power Retro Designs Retro Designs replaces the original 2.8-liter inline-six with a new 5.4-liter V8 Mercedes crate engine that has the internal designation M113 originally used in models from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Retro Designs didn't disclose the new powerplant's output, but most factory tunes of the naturally aspirated mill made around 350 horsepower. This engine originally came in models such as the C55 AMG and the 1997-2002 E55 AMG. While not overly powerful, it's still a significant upgrade over the 2.8-liter inline-six, producing around 160 hp.The powertrain upgrades include a new aluminum radiator and a custom stainless steel exhaust. A unique fuel tank and stainless steel fuel system are also among the upgrades.The V8 hooks up to a Mercedes 5G-Tronic 722.6 five-speed automatic transmission. To make everything work together, Retro Designs had to create a custom wiring harness and used a sealed motorsport-grade electrical system to ensure reliability. There's also aftermarket ECU integration and custom transmission management.Retro Designs promises the 280SE restomod has "a fully reworked suspension and an advanced braking system." The company calls the setup "refined yet aggressive." This classy-looking machine is for comfortable grand touring, not canyon carving.For some context, the 1969 280SE coupe belongs to Mercedes' W108 model series that was in production in Germany from 1965 to 1972. The range-topping performance version in the United States was the 280 SE 4.5, packing a 4.5-liter V8 making 195 hp. A Gorgeous Cabin Retro DesignsMercedes models of this era have beautiful cabins, and Retro Designs hues close to the original look for its 280SE restomod. The company mixes restored factory pieces with handcrafted custom upgrades. Butterscotch-colored leather and warm wood trim adorn the interior. The headliner is Alcantara. Smaller upgrades include new door panels with accent lighting and heated front seats.Modernization is part of a restomod's core recipe, and this 280SE is far more usable today than in the late 1960s. There's now keyless entry, a modern air conditioning system, and an upgraded audio system with a tiny screen on the dashboard.For a full tour of the car, check out the video below:Retro Designs specializes in one-off builds for clients. The company started building hot rods and branched out from there. Its other creations have included a V8-powered FJ62 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 1977 Ford Bronco with a rebuilt 302-cubic-inch V8 and factory transmission, and a lowered, V8-powered 1984 Chevrolet C10 pickup. We can't wait to see what the company makes next.