The thing with concept cars is that no matter how stunning, and how gorgeous they are, they’re more likely than not merely destined for the history books and nothing more. Case in point: the stunning nearly 20-ft long Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet concept. First presented at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2016 in coupe form, and subsequently as a Cabriolet at IAA 2017, the name of the concept harks back to its 6 meter or 19.7-foot length.
It was meant to be the Maybach imagining of a Mercedes SLS roadster — a 2+2 all-electric gullwing with about 750 horsepower. As we all know, Mercedes-Maybach hasn’t really followed the direction envisioned by the concept. So someone else has.
A Russian enthusiast, simply known as mr_maybach6 on Instagram, has recreated the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet concept at home. With precious little in the way of details, the social media account does show a few steps along the way. The enthusiast has based his version of the Maybach 6 Cabriolet on another Mercedes roadster, in this case an R230-gen Mercedes-Benz SL500.
Unlike just any old garage-built project, it appears the base Mercedes roadster had its bodywork fully stripped away, and was then 3D-scanned to provide the digital bones for the dramatic overhaul it would undergo. The Vision 6 Cabriolet bodywork was then digitally “fitted” to the skeleton and modeled to provide the right scale.
After all, we’re talking a 20-ft long body being adapted to a much, much shorter platform. Once that was done, it appears the bodywork was crafted from self-hardening foam on balsa wood, and then chipped away at to create the complex surfaces. This was step one, before the entire bodywork was then reimagined in steel and fiberglass.
Crucial steps along the way are missing, but the result is a level of detailing and finish that one doesn’t normally associate with a garage build. In fact, it’s as close on the outside at least, to something that Mercedes themselves might have created. And that’s high praise indeed for any car builder, not just an auto enthusiast bringing his favorite concept car to life in his garage somewhere in Russia.