- 02/04/2020
- 5 Min Read
- By: Antonio Alvendia
Two Worlds Collide: Mercedes-AMG G55 Geländewagen
As a professional driver and a family man, how does one bridge the chasm between two worlds? Calvin Wan does it with style in his Mercedes- AMG G55 Geländewagen.
As you can see from this off-road drift shot, Calvin Wan is not your average car owner. He is a former professional driver who competed for racing series like Formula Drift, D1 Grand Prix, Redline Time Attack, Gymkhana Grid, and NASA's Annual 25 Hour Enduro. He is also a SAG card-carrying stunt driver for film and TV, whose work you’ve seen in productions like Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and the Lethal Weapon series. In addition to that, he’s family-oriented—a husband and father of three. The AMG G55 Geländewagen (W463 chassis designation) is where his two worlds merge.
As with many innovations, the G-class was the result of military intervention. Unexpectedly, it was inaugurated at the urging of the Shah of Iran who, as a shareholder in Mercedes, had quite a bit of pull with them. It was released to the public in 1979 but the Argentine Army was the first to adopt it in 1981. The classic styling is clearly reminiscent of a vehicle designed for military purposes.
Calvin was very careful in choosing this AMG G55 Geländewagen as he has been with every vehicle in his (now) six car collection. He needed a durable and reliable SUV that could serve as a daily driver for what was soon to be a family of five. To satisfy his paternal instincts, it had to be safe and capable of supporting three child seats. As a driver of certain tastes and needs, it had to be a timeless, classic design, appreciating in value, with 4-wheel drive, good off-road capabilities, and a towing capacity of over 6,500 lbs to accommodate trailer and drift/track car. He found all of these attributes in the G-Wagen.
The original wheel size for the 2004 G55 was 18x9.5. This G55 has been upgraded with an OEM Plus 1 setup from a newer 2010 model - 19x9.5 285/55/19. Calvin told us, “It was hard to find any appropriate AT/MT tires for the 19” wheel size. So I kept with the OEM specification 19” tires and found that the SUV actually handled well and was fun to drive on mountain roads with the stiffer 2004 AMG suspension tuning. The majority of the time, I drive on-road with it, so I decided to keep the original AMG suspension and OEM Plus wheel setup that AMG engineered for optimum on-road handling.”
“Classic design” is a concept that came up a lot when discussing the G55. This cockpit is a textbook illustration of that concept. The rich, black leather interior accented with walnut trim gives a nod to classic luxury styling, while also signaling the commitment to drivability. This is not your average SUV.
The design features throughout are very much in line with Calvin’s original intent in purchasing the G-Wagen. Even these leather, heated front seats give mute testimony to the merging of luxury with functionality. It’s a vehicle that embraces both driver and passengers without coddling.
The W463 chassis steering wheel was upgraded for the first time in 1993. The following year (1994) the steering wheel had another major revamp which added more touch controls as well as driver airbags. The original wood and leather styling was retained while adding new functionality.
This very well-preserved specimen was purchased in February of 2017 with 43,000 miles on the odometer. Only 294 G55s were produced for the US market in 2004. Normally, these numbers convey a certain level of collectibility, and, in the hands of a collector, the objective would be to minimize use to optimize value. Calvin, however, prefers a more hands-on approach that involves enjoying the occasional pushing of the car to its limits with a commitment to restoration as needed. Proof of this preference is the additional 38,000 miles accrued over the three years since the purchase.
Built into the nodule that controls the sunroof, is the Tele Aid system. The Tele Aid system was standard in earlier iterations as a form of safety service in case of emergency, quickly connecting the driver with emergency assistance in a manner similar to OnStar. The Mbrace system has since replaced Tele Aid in later models.
This OEM cupholder for the G55 looks very unconventional but it's another example of the simple yet extremely functional design that went into this vehicle. The net, unlike a normal solid cupholder, absorbs much of the energy transferred through off-road jostling. Drinks are far less likely to spill with this design.
The G55 shifter is a part of the Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic transmission. Also called the 722.6, it is Mercedes’ first entirely computer controlled transmission and the first to be equipped with a converter clutch. The winter option allows for a second gear start and a higher gear ratio.
The W463 chassis was designed with three fully locking differentials (control console pictured here). The G-Wagen is one of very few vehicles with this design feature. The center, rear and front differentials can be locked separately, which, combined with the solid front and rear axles, makes it a very capable off-roader while remaining fun to drive under normal conditions.
The G-Wagen has a body-on-frame construction that undergirds its angular, boxy design. It is also well-adapted to cold weather travel. One of the stronger proofs of the vehicle’s hardiness under harsh conditions came in 2006 through the experience of a documentary filmmaker who drove a stock G-Wagen almost 12,000 miles into Siberia in the winter. He didn’t suffer a single breakdown despite temperatures reaching as low as -63˚F. Surely it’s up to a weekend challenge with Calvin and his family in the mountains.
Here, again, we see the merging of two worlds. Of course, as a responsible and concerned parent, the three carseats are strapped in and well-secured. And though that would be more than enough for the average parent, it’s just not enough for a professional driver with automotive style encoded into his DNA. No less than Recaro seats are acceptable for his three future Stigs.
Aside from the CD changer in the side panel, the cargo area is all business. The thick, utilitarian rubber flooring and cargo tie-down rings are perfect for everything from hunting to stowing ski and snow gear - not to mention groceries.
The Maxtrax traction boards stored in the rear compartment are to provide that extra bit of grip for when even a vehicle with advanced off-roading attributes like the G55 meets its match in mud or snow. Normally the G55 handles everything it encounters with relative grace. But, occasionally…
…things happen. These photos were taken during an actual impromptu photo shoot which resulted in the G-Wagen getting caught in the snow. Yes, the Maxtrax traction boards actually got a chance to prove their worth. Thankfully, they eventually worked as advertised and Calvin and family were able to enjoy the rest of their weekend getaway after a little digging in the snow.
“W463 chassis designation G-Wagens are unique because they were based on the same timeless design from 1979 when the W460 chassis was introduced. Those first generation G-Wagens had smaller engines until 1983 when Mercedes collaborated with Porsche and shoehorned a naturally aspirated V8 from the 928 into a 280 GE and won that year’s Paris-Dakar Rally. This 2004 G55, with the naturally aspirated AMG V8, is the factory resto-mod version of that race truck.”
The 2004 G55 was the last year of the first generation, naturally aspirated, AMG M113 5.4L V8 (again with the five-speed 722.6 Automatic) which is known to be one of AMG’s most reliable powertrain setups. The G-Wagen has retained the same timeless design that stretches back to 1979.
AMG was founded as a racing engine manufacturer in 1967. After becoming famous for custom-tuning Benzes, they formed a partnership with Mercedes creating high-performance packages for select models. Their marque has become a standard for high-quality and performance.
Because AMG G-Wagens have larger fender flares than the standard G500/550 models, Calvin added 30mm H&R spacers all around which helped widen the stance and added additional stability when cornering on and off-road. He also added tinted tail lights and side markers.
Calvin chose this particular G-Wagen because he likes “pioneering designs that become timeless modern classics such as mid-century modern furniture/architecture and groundbreaking automobiles that begin, or define, genres - as well as having motorsport history.”
He plans to possibly add a roof rack/ladder so that he can get a roof tent to camp out in and he’d also like to add a proper trailer hitch to tow his BMW 2002, E46 M3, or his FD3S RX7 drift car to the track. In the meantime, he’ll just enjoy this vehicle for daily duties and on outings with his family.
It seems that Calvin is both a happy driver and a happy father because of the time (and memories) this G55 will allow him to share with his family - another testimony to the meeting of seemingly disparate worlds. It's a duality literally reflected here in this image.
“This G55 is currently a daily driver, so I never intended it for car shows or off-road competition use or anything. Just being fortunate enough to be able to own such a prestigious vehicle, and to be able to enjoy driving it with my family, is an achievement in itself.”
Story by Avon Bellamy
Photos by Antonio Alvendia
If you like this Mercedes-Benz AMG G55, you can find additional Mercedes-Benz content at mercedes.fcpeuro.com, as well as more build features like this one here. If there's anything specific you would like to see, or if you have any questions/comments, leave them in the comments section below.
