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]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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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.