Wherever the Westwind blows
As with most of the upfitted RVs and executive shuttles, this one began life as a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, specifically a Sprinter 3500. From that starting point of a reliable, luxury platform, Westwind Coachworks got to work creating a distinct and unique executive coach experience.
Originally, the company’s founder, Jim Bolinger, was not a manufacturer at all, but purchased a growing fleet of rental limousines starting at the age of 18 in 1978. It was not until a partnership with Missouri-based Bob Murgel in 1996 that Westwind Coaches actually began upfitting vehicles. Originally, Lincoln Town Cars, Hummer H2s, and Ford Excursions were all features, but over the years, the brand has honed in on the Sprinter platform specifically, even becoming certified as a Mercedes Master Upfitter. With specificity comes specialized experience, and we’ll dive into just how well that experience served today’s feature.
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A big, black executive shack
The high-gloss paint job on this executive shuttle is called Jet Black, and, as the photos suggest, it is highly reflective, almost mirror-like. The original Sprinter 3500 was ordered with extra roof height that stands a bit taller than the average passenger van, accommodating all of the accessories stored inside. A three-panel window on the driver’s side, a similar set of two-panel windows, a connected sliding door window on the passenger’s side, and both barn doors are all heavily tinted while still transparent to passengers inside.
Long aftermarket running boards have been installed to make entry and exit easier, and a receiver hitch is installed on the rear for towing. The grille is all blacked out, with one of the only splashes of color on the entire vehicle being the Mercedes-Benz logo. Rounding out the outside are 16″ steel wheels with polished colander-style covers, all shod in 215/85 Continental VanContact tires.
Take a seat in the captain’s chair(s)
Up front is a pretty conventional Sprinter cabin, with a few extras. Both front captain’s chairs are power-adjustable, finished in white, and feature quilted diamond-stitching patterns that extend to the rear seating as well. The dash is done in gray, while the center console, door panels, and flooring are black.
A nice array of features, including both heat and air conditioning, cruise control, crosswind assist, and a rearview camera for parking, all make driving such a large vehicle a little bit easier. There’s also a sizable touchscreen that includes stereo integration with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A meaty tri-spoke steering wheel, clad in the same gray as the dashboard, has plenty of tactile buttons to help give the driver controls without distractions. Behind the wheel sits a 0-120 mph speedometer, a tachometer that redlines at 5,000 rpm, and a configurable digital gauge display for additional vehicle information. Small auxiliary gauges for fuel and engine coolant are also tucked away in the gauge cluster.
Have a meeting on the go
Where the upfitting shines most is here in the rear. All three windows on each side have blue backlighting as well as slatted blinds to control privacy and lighting. There’s also plenty of overhead lighting and storage compartments that take advantage of the raised roof. A total of five rear bucket seats, done in the same white upholstery with stitched diamond pattern, sit around a wood-patterned table with built-in illuminated cup holders.
Behind them sits a pair of inward-facing black benches, also given diamond stitching. A retractable partition sits between the driver’s cabin and the rest of the interior, where there is also a flat-screen television and residential-style outlets. In the very back, a small bathroom composed of a toilet and sink serves your human needs.
Enough horsepower to power through
Under the hood of this luxurious meetinghouse on wheels sits a standard Sprinter engine: a 3.0L (183ci) turbodiesel V6 for better low-end power and high-end fuel efficiency, especially after the fuel filter was replaced in autumn 2024. In ideal conditions, that equates to 188 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels by way of a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which the owner reports was serviced around the same time as the fuel filter was replaced. Factory-standard independent front suspension and dually rear axle along with a Mercedes-Benz proprietary Electronic Stability Program (ESP) keep the ride comfortable, while all four wheels feature disc brakes for better handling and stopping power. Almost all of the 36,000 miles on the odometer are from the current owner.
Final thoughts: Why have a meeting anywhere else?
Not everyone needs an executive shuttle, but after these photos, we assume almost everyone wants one now. If you are a club or company that regularly moves people around, whether it’s to and from airports, on work trips to restaurants and golf courses where deals are closed, travel to multiple facility locations, or just have a team looking for an excuse to move physically while their ideas move metaphorically, this executive shuttle is certainly worth considering. You can dive deeper into the offer before the auction closes over on Bring A Trailer by clicking here!
