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The youngest member of the "Black Elephant" family was also the largest one. Marked "G-66", this giant vehicle is universallly considered a radical step aside from traditional Mercedes-Benz design - and, simultaneously, as a leap back to prewar Geländewagen concept. Yes, double rear axle! The first study appeared sometime in 1958 or 1959, but the new "Elephant" was unveiled only in 1964. It instantly earned a number of humorous nicknames, most notably "Raumwal" (Space Whale). Being very different to the G-6, this six-wheeler was pressed into production when the older model hasn't been phased out yet (Sultan of Oman took delivery of the last G-6 as late as in 1967). The G-66 quickly found its way into the garages of assorted Latin American and African dictators - including the notorious cannibal Jean-Bédel Bokassa - and was often seen at military parades and state ceremonies. A special version was offered to the Pope, but Vatican opted for more conservative Model 600 Pullman/Grand as a platform for their Papamobile. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, going to his hunting lodge, used to drive a black G-66. Elvis Presley purchased one of the "Black Elephants" which actually wasn't black - a plum-colored six-wheeler joined a venerable G-5 in Graceland.
Summing up, I must admit that the G-66 was greater success than its predecessors - during its nearly 11-year lifespan, 124 units were built (most of them are still alive and kickin'). The 1973 oil crisis slowly killed the Space Whale: with zero new orders for 1975 model year, the production was stopped.

More G-66 pre02.deviantart.net/8228/th/p…
Another Gelandewagen:
G-6 pre06.deviantart.net/e69e/th/p…
G-6 pre01.deviantart.net/04b7/th/p…
G-5 pre13.deviantart.net/ce73/th/p…

Description

The youngest member of the "Black Elephant" family was also the largest one. Marked "G-66", this giant vehicle is universallly considered a radical step aside from traditional Mercedes-Benz design - and, simultaneously, as a leap back to prewar Geländewagen concept. Yes, double rear axle! The first study appeared sometime in 1958 or 1959, but the new "Elephant" was unveiled only in 1964. It instantly earned a number of humorous nicknames, most notably "Raumwal" (Space Whale). Being very different to the G-6, this six-wheeler was pressed into production when the older model hasn't been phased out yet (Sultan of Oman took delivery of the last G-6 as late as in 1967). The G-66 quickly found its way into the garages of assorted Latin American and African dictators - including the notorious cannibal Jean-Bédel Bokassa - and was often seen at military parades and state ceremonies. A special version was offered to the Pope, but Vatican opted for more conservative Model 600 Pullman/Grand as a platform for their Papamobile. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, going to his hunting lodge, used to drive a black G-66. Elvis Presley purchased one of the "Black Elephants" which actually wasn't black - a plum-colored six-wheeler joined a venerable G-5 in Graceland.
Summing up, I must admit that the G-66 was greater success than its predecessors - during its nearly 11-year lifespan, 124 units were built (most of them are still alive and kickin'). The 1973 oil crisis slowly killed the Space Whale: with zero new orders for 1975 model year, the production was stopped.

More G-66 pre02.deviantart.net/8228/th/p…
Another Gelandewagen:
G-6 pre06.deviantart.net/e69e/th/p…
G-6 pre01.deviantart.net/04b7/th/p…
G-5 pre13.deviantart.net/ce73/th/p…