Honouring Shared Values as Heritage-Rich Brands.
The designers and manufacturers of yachts and silver, Robbe & Berking, share a common passion for timeless elegance, distinct craftsmanship, and unmistakable beauty with Mercedes-Maybach. Their common goal is to provide customised goods for special enthusiasts. In honour of the Flensburg silver manufacturer's 150th anniversary, Mercedes-Maybach has produced a distinctly elegant S-Class model. Its design is based on the fabled SPHINX 12mR yacht, which was constructed in 1939 and is referred to in sailing boat history as the “night-blue beauty." It was Robbe & Berking's first period-appropriate wooden boat restoration. Robbe & Berking Classics, the company's yacht shipyard, was founded in 2008 as a result of this.
The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 anniversary car shares the same colour scheme as the SPHINX: the lower bodywork is painted MANUFAKTUR patagonia red brilliant, while the top bodywork is painted marine blue metallic. To complement the yacht's white waterline, a filigree pinstripe in MANUFAKTUR opalite white metallic is used to divide them.
“Like the yacht SPHINX, our exclusive Mercedes-Maybach S-Class anniversary vehicle epitomises craftsmanship, elegance, and attention to detail. We congratulate Robbe & Berking on their anniversary and look forward to continuing our successful collaboration.”
Daniel Lescow, Head of Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-Benz Group AG
“This wonderful anniversary vehicle is another sign of the friendship that has long connected Maybach and Robbe & Berking. We are also united by shared passions: craftsmanship, the finest materials, and timelessly beautiful lines—on the road as well as on the water and on the table.” Oliver Berking, Managing Director of Robbe & Berking GmbH
With diamond quilting and crystal white Maybach MANUFAKTUR Exclusive nappa leather, the interior of the unique Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is stunning. This exquisite material is used to cover the seats, headliner, door centre panels, and storage compartment beneath the central display. In certain places, the white leather contrasts with the ornamental stitching in Orion grey, like a sail.
The unique walnut wood trim combined with the light-coloured aluminium trim strips creates yet another exquisite contrast. They mimic the appearance of a ship's deck. Additionally tailored are the nappa leather back cushions. The diamond topstitching in orion grey and MAYBACH embossing contrast with the crystal white leather's smooth, triangular side surface in silver grey pearl. The silver grey pearl nappa leather piping completes the pillows' look.
The Burmester® premium 4D surround sound system, MANUFAKTUR door sill trims with red illuminated MAYBACH branding, and the rear motorised comfort doors are further features of the kit for maximum comfort. Additionally, there is a cooling compartment with two silver-plated champagne goblets from Robbe & Berking and the luxurious MBUX rear-seat entertainment system.
The goblets from the 1874-founded silver maker have added a unique shine to Mercedes-Maybach cars since 2002. They are getting more and more well-liked among clients and are accessible upon request. This special Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is no longer for sale since it has already been reserved for a client.
The renowned "12 Metre R Class" (12mR yacht) includes the SPHINX. Built between 1907 and 1987, these grand and exquisite ships were the top class of sailors and competed for the America's Cup from 1958 to 1987. They are every sailing enthusiast's fantasy and the pinnacle of the traditional boat. They are far longer than 12 metres, though. The fabled "International Rule," which the principal sailing nations decided upon in 1906 for the building of racing yachts, is what led to the "12 Metre" moniker.
The Abeking & Rasmussen boatyard in Hamburg constructed the 21.48-metre-long SPHINX in 1939 as a club ship for the North German Regatta Association (NRV). Out of 10 12-metre boats, she was the final one to be launched. Later on, she sailed under various different identities and changed hands multiple times. For instance, she was used as an officer candidate training ship by the German Navy from 1958 to 2004 under the name "Ostwind." She received several awards, including nine Blue Ribands for being the fastest boat in the Flensburg Fjord. Oliver Berking, a fervent sailor, purchased her in 2005 with two companions.
They meticulously and fervently repaired the racing boat in accordance with the original blueprints. They restored the traditional wooden yacht's accessibility to the sailing community under her original name, SPHINX. To maintain and use the acquired knowledge, Oliver Berking established the Robbe & Berking Classics yacht shipyard in the municipal port of Flensburg in 2008. This shipyard has grown to become a highly sought-after expert in the repair of vintage sailing yachts and the building of accurate reproductions of vintage vessels that have been lost to time.
