LITTLE SILVER’S CONTEMPORARY MOTOR CARS ARE SHAKING UP TRANSIT CULTURE IN THE MOST LUXURIOUS OF WAYS WITH A SUITE OF CUSTOM-OUTFITTED SPRINTER VANS STUFFED WITH SURPRISES

BY AMANDA MCCOY

While crossing the George Washington Bridge or cruising along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, one might glimpse a Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van as it winds through the NYC hubbub on its way to the airport, a commercial high-rise, or an entertainment venue. Its exterior, cloaked from head to toe in midnight black paint and body treatments, is intentionally subdued, designed to seamlessly blend in with the near-constant cavalcade of vehicles that weaves throughout New Jersey and the Big Apple. But one peek behind the doors reveals an ultra-luxurious custom build-out, a contemporary chariot for work or whimsy. “We started custom ¬finishing Sprinter Vans after COVID hit,” noted Victor Giamanco, executive vice president of Contemporary Motor Cars, a legacy Mercedes-Benz dealership in Little Silver. “We noticed a new trend; people were not commuting into the city on mass transit anymore, and the concept of mobile and home offices had become extremely relevant.”
The process begins with a factory Sprinter. First, the team upgrades the van with an air suspension for a smooth, cloudlike ride. Next up is the interior, which is fully customized. According to Giamanco, the designers meticulously source plush, top-grade materials to create a cushy, Contempo cabin. “The exterior of the vehicle has an unpretentious look, and that’s by design,” said Giamanco. “From the outside, no one would know just how luxurious the vans are in the interior.”
Each van is equipped with a bathroom, high-end surround sound system, premium ¬flooring, a beverage refrigerator, and several TVs. Buyers have the option to add a cappuccino machine, and each variant features high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity. The palette follows a modern minimalism approach; there’s no needless pomp or ¬ ash, and according to Giamanco, it’s in the details where the vans really shine.
“I describe the finishing as no different from a house: two homes can have the same trim work and paneling, but once you start peeling back the layers and looking at wiring and plumbing, that’s when you notice the difference,” he said. “The painstaking attention to detail is the differentiating factor between middle-of-the-road and high-end. It’s the work behind the walls, the things you can’t see, that are the most important. Just like choosing the right contractor when building a house, we selected the best in the business to outfit the Sprinters.”

A pocket sliding door, for example, was purposely chosen to separate the cabin from the full bathroom to maximize space and prevent loss of legroom. A thick, luxury-grade synthetic leather covers the reclining seats, which the VP noted feels softer than traditional hides and can best weather the Northeast’s demanding climate.

“Another incredible aspect of the Sprinter is its versatility,” added Giamanco. “Clients use them to travel to their private planes or the airport, as a mobile office, or to take their family or clients out to dinner. It’s essentially an in-house car service that’s far more comfortable and upscale than the norm.”

EACH SPRINTER ARRIVES STOCKED with the latest active safety and convenience tech, like Active Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Attention Assist, and a 360-degree view camera system.
BLACK ON BLACK is the most popular color combination, though buyers have the option to customize their palette with a range of hues, woods, and flooring.
PARTY OR BUSINESS MEETING READY, each van can comfortably seat ten with the driver included. The seats, swathed in premium-grade synthetic leather, recline and feature footrests, so riders can kick back and relax while en route.
THE VANS WERE PREPPED FOR WINTER USE and offer an available on-demand all-wheel drive system that allows up to a 50% power split between axles. The waterline is heated so it doesn’t freeze in the winter.
THE OPTIONS FOR USE ARE BOUNDLESS: a Haute home office, perhaps, or an in-house recreation vehicle. Giamanco noted corporations also used them as shared company cars.

Contemporary Motor Cars
100 Oceanport Avenue, Little Silver / 732.842.5353 / cmcbenz.com