Unstoppable Luxury
Mercedes-Benz Classe G
This legendary off-roader has been in production since 1979, appreciated by armies around the world, but also by private customers thanks to its technical skills that enable to deal with any path. It is now an object of worship: a distinctive style that follows the famous quote by Coco Chanel: “Fashion fades, but style remains.”
It may seem counterintuitive to put in comparison a military vehicle to a bastion of fashion like Chanel, but today Auto Class Magazine wants to present the most glamorous Gelandenwagen thanks to the two founders of the G Club Italy, which will tell you something more about it.
The idea comes from two friends: Antonio Marchesi and Niccolò Fallani, the first from Bergamo and the second from Florence, respectively owners of a G500 V8 Convertible (2011) and of a 200GE Convertible (1990), which during the summer solstice of 2013 decided to open this club for all fans of the G-Class, not only for its undisputed off-road capability, but also for the style, exclusivity and its unique out of the box being: G Club meetings, in fact, concern about beautiful drives across the Riviera, but also good food and wine in good company.
The president of the G Club Italy, Antonio Marchesi, drives an extraordinary W463 G500 V8 Convertible Red Thulit; V8 engines are the epitome of ‘exclusivity and start with a very rich standard equipment, this specimen mounts optional multicontour heated seats, windbreaks, tow bar and illuminated door sill.
Go unnoticed on a vehicle of the kind is impossible: the G Convertible is by itself not widespread on Italian roads, with this color is more unique than rare…
Niccolò Fallani, Vice President of the Club, owns a 1990 GE200 Convertible, it is one of the latest W460 series, the original model of the G-Class and also in this case it is a full-featured model, in fact, it’s fitted with gray leather interior with contrasting black piping, air conditioning, fog lights, wood inlays, front grille with the same color of the body and Blaupunkt audio system.
“Reliability is legendary, now it has about 200,000 km and I’ve only changed brake pads, cables and catalyst. I would change the engine because with only 109 hp is clearly underpowered for the weight of the G-Class and moving it” happily” means to be always above 2800 rpm with high consumption (about 5 km/l, more than that of the 500 V8 that thanks to its 388 hp offers well other benefits “. However it is a rare model: the 200GE was only sold in Italy, to cope with local taxes for cars with engine capacity of more than 2 liters, it is estimated a production of only 610 units between 1986 and 1990, of which only 64 convertible.
Whether we speak about the 200GE or the G500, character is the same, some latest models offer electronic controls and accessories that increasingly pamper the driver and passengers; this car is probably the only one by Mercedes-Benz to follow the overengineering concept, which means the oversized engineering of all the components that made the proverbial reliability of these old three-pointed star cars.
Despite the luxurious interior, we have to say that both models retain a little ‘rustic features that recall the military origins of the G-Class Cabriolet, as it does not offer much comfort on the motorway because of the roof flying like you were sailing “Luna Rossa”.
You buy a G Class for love, that is a crazy purchase: it costs as an apartment, consumes as a tanker, has the handling of a truck, but it is finished like a proper luxury car. What about the Cabrio? 4 seats and a soft top like a luxury convertible, indestructible like a tank and unstoppable as an ibex.
Whatever the destination to be reached, the G allows you to get there in style and looks good in any environment.
“Despite the 21 years that separate them, the G is still the same, ready to take you from the French Riviera to Cortina, without any problem.”
Giancarlo Gnepo Kla