Photo: Classic Youngtimers
Mercedes-Benz is one of the very few car companies that has had a 6x6 vehicle in its offer recently; in fact, apart from the likes of Hennessey, which operates on a much smaller scale compared to the German giant, we can't really think of any other one that has.
We're talking, of course, about the gloriously stupid Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6, the behemoth whose name instantly makes everyone think of dune cresting, camels, and all the other cliches associated with the Middle East.
That's because the G63 AMG 6x6 was indeed a very exclusive model, and most of the vehicles built ended up in that part of the world where its capabilities would be appreciated and its thirst for fuel wouldn't raise any issues. But however difficult it was to get one, it was nothing compared to this much more industrious one-off.
What you're looking at is the only Mercedes-Benz X-Class 6x6 in existence, making it more exclusive than the average G63 six-wheeled pickup; it's essentially on par with the gold-covered one owned by sheik Salman of Saudi Arabia in terms of uniqueness. Their value, on the other hand, might differ a little.
The special X-Class has just changed hands, though who bought it and what price they paid are two pieces of information we don't have. Dutch car auctioning site Classic Youngtimers, where the Merc was on sale, doesn't disclose these aspects, but it did publish a set of gorgeous photos that you can gawk at in the picture gallery at will.
Before it became the only X-Class with two axles at the back, the X 350d 6 Wheeler was just a regular Mercedes-Benz X 350d pickup truck. It had brown exterior paint, a black interior, and a diesel engine, so it couldn't have been any more boring if it tried. However, with some input from Carlex Design (the Polish tuner who first announced a six-wheeled X-Class in 2018 before going silent and whose name appears on the bed's side railing), like the ugly duckling, the once mundane truck became one of the coolest ones on the planet.
If you ignore the extra axle, the 4-inch (10 cm) lift, the off-road tires, the flared wheel arches, and the AMG GTR grille, not much else is changed about the X-Class. But that's almost like looking at a monster truck and saying that it really isn't any different from a regular truck if you ignore its large wheels.
Under the hood, the 6x6 Mercedes kept its 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that develops 254 hp (258 PS), meaning the vehicle is still quite usable for both work and fun. The website mentions that it won't drain the oil well like its bigger sibling, the G63 6x6, though you might be a little disappointed if you care about dynamic performance. No figures are available, but you can expect it to be slower than the original X 350d it's based on.
The idea is that this 6x6 is meant to be driven, maybe even put to work. Even though it's a one-off, they say it shouldn't be kept in a glass display only to be looked at. Hopefully, its new owner will follow that advice and take it out into the world so more people can appreciate its striking appearance. Who knows, we might soon see it cresting some dunes; or wearing a gold paint job.
That's because the G63 AMG 6x6 was indeed a very exclusive model, and most of the vehicles built ended up in that part of the world where its capabilities would be appreciated and its thirst for fuel wouldn't raise any issues. But however difficult it was to get one, it was nothing compared to this much more industrious one-off.
What you're looking at is the only Mercedes-Benz X-Class 6x6 in existence, making it more exclusive than the average G63 six-wheeled pickup; it's essentially on par with the gold-covered one owned by sheik Salman of Saudi Arabia in terms of uniqueness. Their value, on the other hand, might differ a little.
The special X-Class has just changed hands, though who bought it and what price they paid are two pieces of information we don't have. Dutch car auctioning site Classic Youngtimers, where the Merc was on sale, doesn't disclose these aspects, but it did publish a set of gorgeous photos that you can gawk at in the picture gallery at will.
Before it became the only X-Class with two axles at the back, the X 350d 6 Wheeler was just a regular Mercedes-Benz X 350d pickup truck. It had brown exterior paint, a black interior, and a diesel engine, so it couldn't have been any more boring if it tried. However, with some input from Carlex Design (the Polish tuner who first announced a six-wheeled X-Class in 2018 before going silent and whose name appears on the bed's side railing), like the ugly duckling, the once mundane truck became one of the coolest ones on the planet.
If you ignore the extra axle, the 4-inch (10 cm) lift, the off-road tires, the flared wheel arches, and the AMG GTR grille, not much else is changed about the X-Class. But that's almost like looking at a monster truck and saying that it really isn't any different from a regular truck if you ignore its large wheels.
Under the hood, the 6x6 Mercedes kept its 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that develops 254 hp (258 PS), meaning the vehicle is still quite usable for both work and fun. The website mentions that it won't drain the oil well like its bigger sibling, the G63 6x6, though you might be a little disappointed if you care about dynamic performance. No figures are available, but you can expect it to be slower than the original X 350d it's based on.
The idea is that this 6x6 is meant to be driven, maybe even put to work. Even though it's a one-off, they say it shouldn't be kept in a glass display only to be looked at. Hopefully, its new owner will follow that advice and take it out into the world so more people can appreciate its striking appearance. Who knows, we might soon see it cresting some dunes; or wearing a gold paint job.
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