Strickland Motors Is Building The Car The Internet Has Been Begging For

If the market doesn't make the station wagon you want, make the station wagon you want for the market. That's exactly what new automaker Strickland Motor Co has done, with two brothers transforming a BMW E46 Touring into the LS V8-powered SpeedWagon. This is more than just an engine swap; the company is changing the bodywork to give it a nose that brings to mind the original Nissan Skyline GT-R and a tail that is more than a little bit Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It will make its debut at, of course, the 2024 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Show is an annual trade show hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), first held in January 1967 as the High Performance and Custom Trade Show. It is widely considered to be the world's largest tuner and aftermarket-specific motor show in the world. The show has traditionally been hosted in the Las Vegas Convention Center, attracting over 140,000 visitors annually, with over 2,400 exhibitors present in its current incarnation. Despite its focus on the aftermarket, the show attracts a large number of automakers annually, showcasing everything from concept builds to accessories.

Company Founders Want Return To Analog

"Analog is better," says the Strickland Motor Co. It's hard to disagree. While we love high-tech features like advanced driver assists and seats that cool our butts, every one of those add-ons takes a little bit away from the driving experience. And adds weight, which takes away even more of the enjoyment of carving corners. Strickland starts the build with a modified version of the BMW E46 chassis. It's a wagon, because of course it is. The E46 wagon body has more storage. It also has the advantage of being slightly less likely to suffer the subframe tearing that is the hallmark of the 1999-2005 BMW chassis.

"The SpeedWagon concept embodies our vision of the perfect blend between power, practicality, and passion. We're excited to showcase the concept car build of this remarkable vehicle at SEMA and can't wait to see the reaction from automotive enthusiasts."- Stone Strickland, Co-CEO

The company says it took inspiration from a wide range of classics for the shape of its first car. The 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, BMW 3.0 CSL, and 1965 Shelby Cobra are named, along with the 1962 Volvo 122S wagon. That vintage design flair carries into the cabin. Reading like a comment thread screed, the site's manifesto continues: "We let the computer manage the engine, maybe some electric windows, and that's about it. And don't take our buttons away." Can we get an Amen?

500 LS V8 Horses Are Just The Beginning

Power comes from an unspecified Chevrolet LS V8. The company says it will deliver 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, and that it will come with a six-speed manual transmission. The company promises 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds for this $150,000 Champion Edition SpeedWagon R, the first planned model.

An even quicker version is planned, with a pair of turbochargers slapped to the V8. That one quotes 1,225 hp, 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and a price tag starting from $405,000. Down the road, Strickland plans an Enthusiast Edition car with a V6 or V8 for under $100k that will be built on the company's own purpose-built chassis.

Brothers Silas and Stone Strickland haven't yet built a car, however. The SpeedWagon is in what the company calls "the concept phase." It plans to start building the first prototype after SEMA is done. But reservations will open soon for buyers who want to get one of the 50 planned Champion Edition first-run cars.