A Most Baffling Status Symbol... the 2005 G55 AMG Kompressor

The story of the Mercedes Benz G-Klass series and how it went from the envy of East German border guards to the envy of Kardashian wannabees still blows my mind. Oddly the birth of this G-Wagen (short for Geländerwagen) came from a suggestion by the Shah of Iran to build a light military vehicle. The project was given the designation W460 and given to the subsidary Steyr in Graz, Austria who had experience building military vehicles since WWll. (Fun Fact: Magna Steyr also builds the Jaguar F1). Once produced, the first gen was tested in various environments in 1974 and first sold not to German military but the Argentine army. The boxy body on frame built for off road was devoid of any creature comforts and was powered by a 2.3 liter 4. Modified units were deployed by the US Marine Corps and Navy Seals as the "Interim Fast Attack Vehicle". Before even an automatic transmission was available, the Vatican ordered one with a thermoplastic clear top as its "Popemobile". As more civilian orders rolled in, the G-Klass became more utility and comfort equipped with features similar to the Land Rover Defender. To crack the American market, a series of mostly under powered engines were used including turbo diesels.By the late '90s, petrol engines in  3.0 liter 6s and 4 and 5 liter V8 powered the W463 generation was truly ready for the US market to join in on the SUV craze. This top of the line model, made famous by the Kardashians, introduced in 2005, upped the horsepower from the G50 to a 469 HP supercharged AMG V8. For recognition that it differed from the Plain Jane G50, besides the 5 spoke titanium AMG wheels w/ wide tires and side exiting split exhaust, the grill was altered to 3 wide fins (for those really in the know). All this and more for a mere $125,000.

Model by AUTOart.