Mercedes G500 4x4 Squared Transformed to Fit in Garage
Slideshow: Former freeskier Jon Olsson recently added a Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared to his (growing) roster of automobiles. But when he got the car home, he was faced with a unique problem—it would not fit in his garage. So, he did the most logical thing possible to the $100K+ car – he cut the roof off, creating the world’s only convertible G500 4x4 Squared. Check it out.
Seriously—the car could not fit into a garage???
Former freeskier Jon Olsson has a bit of a compulsive buying habit when it comes to world-class cars. Most recently, he fell in love with a Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared, even going so far as to give the car the nickname "Lord Hans" after his brother. The only problem with the purchase is that Olsson did not take into consideration the car’s dimensions. When he was driving it around, he found that he could neither fit it into parking garages in Monaco nor his home in Marbella, Spain.
So what made Olsson decide to cut the roof off?
Olsson really, really liked the G500, but he didn’t want to build a bigger garage. After all, doing so would not solve the parking garage issue. So, he did the next best thing: He cut off the roof and shaved the windshield, the result of which is now the world’s only convertible G500 4x4 Squared.
>>Join the conversation about Olsson's open-top G500 right here in MBWorld.org
Performance mods made prior to the removal of the roof
Prior to taking the roof of the car off, Olsson decided to swap out the car’s suspension, wheels, and beadlock tires from the Mercedes-AMG G 63 6x6, plus he added a backwoods-duty winch, bull bar, roof rack, and carbon fiber wheel arches. Additionally, he installed an LED light bar, sirens, and had Absolute Motors upgrade the 422-horsepower, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 to a 780-horsepower monster.
>>Join the conversation about Olsson's open-top G500 right here in MBWorld.org
Show-off mods because Olsson has more money than he knows what do with
As if everything detailed so far is not impressive enough, an iPhone app controls the butterfly valves in the car’s Akrapovic exhaust to make volcanic noises. Finally, Olsson updated the car’s design scheme with a camo wrap; specifically, a dark pattern on the driver's side, a light pattern for the passenger's side.
>>Join the conversation about Olsson's open-top G500 right here in MBWorld.org
So, did this really solve the garage fitment issues?
Olsson flew his heavily modified G500 out to RDB in Los Angeles. In addition to lopping the top off, the shop removed the headrests (Olsson admits he likes the vintage Bronco look). The car was then sent to a boat shop to install teak decking over the cargo area that extends along the shoulders of the passenger area. The result of all these updates allows the car to better fit within parking garages. Unfortunately, the car is no longer good in the rain. But for days like that, Olsson can take out George The Rolls, a customized Rolls-Royce Wraith that has a light bar and roof rack, both of which are perfect for rainy day exploration.
Check out this clip to see Olsson talk about his modified G500.
>>Join the conversation about Olsson's open-top G500 right here in MBWorld.org
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