Old Mercedes G500 Made Relevant Again Courtesy Of Carbon Motors

The G-Class is still going strong, with Mercedes updating and keeping it fresh. Yet its boxy exterior, small cabin and body-on-frame construction, traits carried over from the original 460-series model, are some characteristics that hint the bygone era it comes from, when the term SUV wasn’t even coined.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the old ones are heading for the scrapyard. In fact, you can get a weathered one with the trio of electric locking differentials (that’s the W463), and find a company willing to modernize it.

Bulgarian tuner Carbon Motors – not to be confused with the company that came up with the E7 Police Interceptor – decided to bring a late 1990s G500 up to par with its more modern counterparts, redesigning and handcrafting its interior in leather.

Carbon Motors says it “declared war” on all plastic elements, upholstering the entire door covers, dashboard, and central console in black leather, and the pillars and headliner in Alcantara. Throughout the vehicle, a custom decorative stitch was handcrafted, and the car was fitted with noise and vibro-isolation materials, as well as a 500-watt sound system.

The exterior enhancements, suspension, and engine upgrades were done by MD Commerce, but there’s no data on the last two yet.