Mercedes-Benz Cast a 1979 280GE in Synthetic Amber for NAIAS
In celebration of the redesigned G-Class, Mercedes-Benz has decided to cast the original G-Wagen in fake amber. The massive instillation is suppose to convey the timelessness of the SUV’s design — which is good, because we don’t think Daimler is going to bother changing the look of the new one all that much.
“The amber cube puts the uniqueness of the G-Class in a nutshell” explained Dr Gunnar Güthenke, head of Mercedes-Benz’s off-road vehicle unit. “Our cult off-road vehicle has been continuously evolving for nearly 40 years – without losing its character or its core values. Its DNA is stronger than time and than any fashion trend. The cube expresses this to stunning effect and thus embodies the objective for advancing the G-Class.”
We’d like to take this moment to remind everyone that the G-Class’s origins can be traced back to the Shah of Iran needing a military vehicle to oppose the Islamic Revolution taking place in the 1970s. However, Mercedes glossed over that fact in its press release, presumably because the current SUV is less about military actions and more about shopping trips on Rodeo Drive.
Still, it remains an iconic vehicle for the brand, easily identified by enthusiasts and automotive laypersons alike. Trapping the first G-Class to hit the consumer market in amber like a prehistoric insect makes for a clever display, and it’s so massive we doubt anyone at the North American International Auto Show will miss it. The company even makes a sly Jurassic Park reference by discussing the “DNA of the G-Class” in its “ Stronger Than Time” web series, which began last November.
If you want to see it, the Mercedes’s huge golden cube will be located at the main entrance to Detroit’s Cobo Center for the duration of NAIAS.
[Image: Mercedes-Benz]
Comments
Join the conversation
I'd much rather have an X164 GL-Class (2007-2012). That was a nice, sharp-looking vehicle (minus the massive, disproportionate grille on the GL550 versus the standard one on the GL320/350/450. Almost bought one from my father in law until I was put off with the potential of a $3k suspension repair, the main Achilles heel with some of the X164s, which is otherwise pretty solid. To me, the G-Wagen doesn't seem like it could be a part of Mercedes' luxury division, much like the Sprinter/Metris, A and B-Classes. It's the German version of a Jeep Wrangler, albeit with much more power and some creature comforts. An S-Class is more elegant, and the GL-Class is suave and brawny when it needs to be.
Is this really for NAIAS, or is this for Jabba the Hutt's garage? Would look great next to the carbonite encased chauffeur.