Mercedes & Moncler Unveil a 1-of-20 G-Wagon Inspired By This NIGO-Designed One-Off 250 GD

There’s always been a loose connection between fashion and automotive design, though it wasn’t until the last few years that we really started to see this link be embraced in a more official capacity as various fashion and streetwear icons have been invited to pen their own concepts or limited edition cars — from Virgil Abloh’s Project MAYBACH to Ronnie Fieg’s KITH Edition BMW M4 Comp.

Fashion design legend, and HUMAN MADE and Bathing Ape founder Tomoaki Nagao — better known simply as “NIGO” — has also participated in this emerging trend, and after recently linking up with Liberty Walk, has now been tapped to help deliver a new limited edition Mercedes G-Class done in collaboration with Italian luxury label Moncler. 

The One-Off

The entire collaboration all started with NIGO being tasked by Mercedes and Moncler with penning his own one-off vehicle. This lead the Japanese streetwear icon to creating a custom one-off ‘90s era W461-gen 250 GD cabriolet — a donor that was completely restored before being redone by NIGO. 

Paintwork & Exterior Details

Cloaked in a grey livery complemented via black trim elements and a green hood, grille, and front quarter panels, the one-off sports a fold-down windshield, a skid plate,’bolted-on tie-down shackles, 90s era black-finished steel wheels, a rear-mounted full-sized spare with a in a custom cover decorated in a design consisting of Mercedes’ three-pointed star set above a Moncler logo. There’s also a custom jerry can holder that houses a gold-colored jerry can and comes adorned in a Mercedes-Benz badge and a “PAST II FUTURE” plaque. 

Puffer Jacket Cover

The real icing on the cake, however, is undoubtedly the build’s bespoke rear cover; a minimalist frame wrapped in a cover made in the same motif as Moncler’s signature quilted puffer jackets. The frame of the rear cover also accommodates a set of ‘90s era speaker boxes with front faces trimmed in the chequered pattern as the seats. 

A Custom Cabin

The myriad of bespoke exterior elements are complemented by an equally-involved interior. The open-air cabin now boasts black leather front seats with checkered pattern inserts, oranges seatbelts, and custom-embroidered headrests with Mercedes and Moncler logos design as the spare wheel cover. The rear area of the build is lined in black wood and features inward-facing seats upholstered in the same leather and checkered pattern as the front seats. 

The Limited Edition

Coming on the heel’s of Moncler and Mercedes’ earlier PROJECT MONDO G collaboration, NIGO’s one-off build would ultimately serve as the inspiration for a special, ultra-limited edition run of modern-day G-Class SUVs known as the G-Class Past II Future, 

Exterior Details

Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the G-Class, this limited edition model features a custom paint job modeled after NIGO’s G-Class Cabriolet; a grey scheme with an olive green front-end and black trim. The G-Class Past II Future Edition also rides on a set of black wheels and comes outfitted with a full-size spare encompassed by a Moncler and Mercedes-logoed cover — just like NIGO’s one-off. There’s also special “Past II Future” lettering running across the bumper.

Interior Elements

Inside the SUV is essentially a modernized version of NIGO’s build. As such, the limited edition G-Wagen features black leather seats with chequered pattern inserts. There’s also a special “One of 20” script on the center console, and a “PAST II FUTURE” logo adorning the front passenger seat grab handle.

Available Versions

Interestingly, rather than being based on the AMG-spec G63 variant, Mercedes is offering the PAST II FUTURE G-Class in versions based on either the gas G 550 or diesel G 450D. The former comes powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six mild-hybrid engine cranking out443hp and 413ft-lbs of torque while the latter packs a 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six that’s good for 362hp and 553ft-lbs. 

The Accompanying Capsule

Alongside the one-off build and limited run of G-Class SUVs, the Mercedes x Moncler x NIGO collab is also delivering a limited edition clothing capsule. Merging visual cues from ‘90s style and contemporary streetwear aesthetics, this gender-neutral collection is comprised of a wide range of apparel items, ranging from parkas and down jackets to Bermuda shorts and checked shirts. The majority of the capsule collection features a largely black, white, blue, and green color scheme contrasted via orange accents, while certain items also come adorned in prints of archival photos from the involved collaboration partners. 

Straight From The Horse’s Mouth

“For me, the 90s were among the most influential decades from a cultural and creative standpoint,” explains NIGO. “Electronic music and the hip-hop scene arose as a new expression of urban character. I wanted to integrate that vibe and energy into the design of the Project G-Class Past II Future by interpreting that legacy for a new contemporary era.”

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability 

The Mercedes-Benz x Moncler G-Class Past II Future by NIGO will be limited to only 20 units worldwide. While pricing has yet to be revealed, the company has stated that the new limited edition G-Class is scheduled to begin deliveries in April of next year — which is when the clothing capsule will also be released. 

Recap

Mercedes-Benz x Moncler G-Class Past II Future by NIGO

Mercedes-Benz and Moncler release a limited edition G-Class known as the Past II Future that’s inspired by a one-off ‘90s era 250 GD designed by streetwear icon NIGO.

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