Can you drive home a Mercedes-Benz G-Class for Rs 10 lakh? This is not an attempt to undermine the G-Class that costs well over Rs 2 crore but an effort to inform you that you can get the feel of a G-Class at a fraction of the cost, thanks to modification experts. The 'home-made' G-Class was spotted during a trip to Kodagu. At a glance, it looked like the original G-Class itself. Get closer and you will come to know the real story. A Force Gurkha has been modified as a G-Class!
The real G-Class
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the king of luxury off-road vehicles. Sometimes called G-Wagen, it can be easily termed one of the living legends of our time. The iconic box on wheels is a sight to behold on the roads. The modified Gurkha resembles the first-generation G-Class. What is the magic behind transforming a Force vehicle like Gurkha into the G-Wagen?
First, the face was changed. When the iconic grille was fitted, it was no more a Gurkha Xpedition. Both the bumper and grille were hand-made by expert technicians. Wheel arches were also made separately. The lights from Royal Enfield bikes replaced the headlamps. An LED strip was added below. The indicator above is a direct design lift from the G-Wagen. When imported side mirrors too were added, it looked exactly like a G-Class from the front.
Another important change was on the roof. The roof design went through a thorough redesign and the rising roof of Gurkha got levelled to the height of the windows. The quarter panels in the back were also altered. We asked the mechanic who doesn't want to share his name how much he spent for the modification. The cost stood at Rs 5 lakh. It will cost only Rs 4 lakh to modify the three-door model. No changes have been made to the engine.
