Like hardly any other vehicle, the robust off-road G-Class has been an integral part of the Mercedes range for decades. While the model was given a completely newly developed successor last year, whose appearance was only slightly modified, the predecessor was, as is well known, basically unchanged for almost 40 years and only regularly modernised over the years. In addition to the five-door model, which is the only body variant available today, a short wheelbase version was also available for a long time - either as a closed three-door or two-door convertible. However, these were lost during the long life of the G-Class, the three-door version was discontinued in 2012, the convertible in 2013.
The owner of the open-top model shown here wanted to have his G 500 modernised and refined, and turned to SCHAWE Car Design from Waltrop in the Ruhr area, a company specialising in such conversions.
REJUVENATION WITH LEATHER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
Externally, the modifications were relatively manageable, the most important modification is certainly the retrofitting of the LED daytime running lights placed below the round headlights. SCHAWE also underlined the refreshed look of the open-air off-roader with a new OEM wheel set: the characteristic fenders now feature AMG wheels of the 9.5x19 inch diameter with 275 tyres.
EXTENSIVE INTERIOR REFINEMENT
Meanwhile, the interior modifications were much more complex, although these were also almost exclusively OEM modifications, so that many of them will probably only be noticed by absolute G-Class connoisseurs. For example, the front seats were given a new foam upholstery in the form used for the G 63, for which the Cabriolet was therefore not available ex works. The front seats also feature a cover with black and partially perforated leather including decorative seams - also in AMG style. An exclusive feature is that this even includes the plastic trim on the seat consoles. The rear seats, the centre console, the dashboard and the steering wheel have also been given the same look. In addition, the interior trim of the doors and the rear side panels were given matching leather upholstery including inlays with diamond stitching, which in the rear are optically modelled on the design of the limited special model Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet. Further modifications include the Alcantara upholstery of the headlining including the sun visors, the carbon coating of the wooden parts on the steering wheel as well as various other decorative elements and the SCHAWE speedometer windows. Other modifications include AMG stainless steel door pins, an extension of the seat rails on the driver's seat to provide a comfortable seating position, and illuminated SCHAWE entry strips. Supplementary concealed innovations are the alarm system with interior monitoring and the GPS location with 24-hour monitoring via emergency control centre.
TECHNICALLY UNCHANGED
In view of the powerful V8 engine under its angular bonnet and the other technical components, the G 500 Cabriolet remained in production condition. The only exception to this is the new exhaust system: It also originates from a G 63, and therefore flows out in front of the rear wheels, thus rounding off the AMG touch. As the G-Class top models from Affalterbach were only available with the long, five-door body, the rear silencer first had to be adapted to the short wheelbase.
Technical facts
Vehicle type: Mercedes-Benz G 500 Cabrio
Engine: V8 petrol engine (M273), exhaust system from AMG G 63 (rear silencer adapted to the short wheelbase of the convertible)
Displacement: 5.461 ccm
Output: 285 kW / 388 PS at 6,000 rpm
Bodywork: LED daytime running lights retrofitted from 2012 as on the Facelift model
Other: CAN bus alarm system with interior monitoring (radar system extra for convertible), GPS positioning (24-hour monitoring via emergency centre)
Interior:
black nappa leather seats with perforations in AMG style front and rear, front seats converted to the foam poster shape of the AMG G 63 seats, seat console covers covered with leather with decorative stitching, wooden steering wheel parts and various decorative elements coated with carbon, Centre console as well as dashboard and steering wheel with leather upholstery including decorative stitching, SCHAWE speedometer discs, leather door panels with inlays including diamond quilting, inlays in the rear side panels with diamond quilting, roof and sun visors covered with Alcantara, AMG door pins made of stainless steel, seat rails of the driver's seat approx. 5.5 centimetres longer, illuminated SCHAWE entry sills
Wheel/tyre:
OEM AMG alloy wheels in 9.5x19 inch ET50
