A Marquee Collaboration
A shared passion for exceptional craftsmanship, refined aesthetics, and ageless elegance brings together Mercedes-Maybach and Robbe & Berking, the renowned silver and yacht makers. Their shared vision is to create personalized products for those with a taste for the extraordinary.
- Honoring shared values as heritage-rich brands
- Unique Mercedes-Maybach S-Class inspired by the design of the legendary SPHINX 12mR yacht.
- Restoration of the racing yacht led to the founding of the Robbe & Berking Classics shipyard in 2008.
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: A Nautical Masterpiece
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Flensburg silver manufactory, Mercedes-Maybach has crafted a uniquely refined S-Class model. Its design draws inspiration from the iconic SPHINX 12mR yacht, built in 1939 and fondly referred to as the “night-blue beauty” in sailing yacht history. The yacht was the first classic wooden yacht restored by Robbe & Berking, which marked the start of their yacht shipyard, Robbe & Berking Classics, in 2008.
Colour Palette Inspired by the Seas
The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 anniversary vehicle mirrors the colour scheme of the SPHINX. It features a two-tone paint finish: nautical blue metallic adorns the upper section, while MANUFAKTUR patagonia red bright graces the lower bodywork. A delicately crafted pinstripe in MANUFAKTUR opalite white metallic separates the two, reflecting the yacht’s white waterline.
“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
A Peek into the Luxurious Interior
The interior of this exclusive Mercedes-Maybach S-Class radiates with Maybach MANUFAKTUR Exclusive nappa leather in crystal white, featuring diamond quilting. The seats, headliner, door centre panels and storage compartment under the central display are all upholstered in this luxurious material. Orion grey decorative stitching creates a striking contrast against the white leather, reminiscent of a sail. The design is further enhanced by the exclusive wood walnut trim with light-coloured aluminium trim strips, resonating with the aesthetics of a ship’s deck.
Ultimate Comfort Features
The vehicle’s luxurious features include electric comfort doors at the rear, MANUFAKTUR door sill trims with red illuminated MAYBACH lettering, and the Burmester® high-end 4D surround sound system. Additionally, it comes with the MBUX high-end rear-seat entertainment system and a cooling compartment, equipped with two silver-plated champagne goblets from Robbe & Berking. These goblets, provided by the silver manufacturer since 2002, add an extra touch of elegance to the Mercedes-Maybach models.
SPHINX: A Legendary Racing Yacht
The SPHINX is a part of the distinguished “12 Metre R class” (12mR yacht). These large and elegant yachts were built from 1907 to 1987, and they sailed for the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987. They are the epitome of the classic yacht and are a dream come true for every sailing enthusiast. However, their length exceeds 12 metres. The “12 Metre” designation comes from the legendary “International Rule”, which the major sailing nations agreed on in 1906 for the construction of racing yachts.
Preserving a Piece of History
The 21.48-metre-long SPHINX was built in 1939 by the Abeking & Rasmussen boatyard as a club ship for the North German Regatta Association (NRV) in Hamburg. It was the last of a series of ten 12-metre boats to be launched. Over the years, it changed hands several times and sailed under different names. In 2005, Oliver Berking, along with two friends, bought her. With meticulous attention to detail and immense passion, they restored the racing yacht according to the original plans. This led to the establishment of the Robbe & Berking Classics yacht shipyard in Flensburg’s city harbour in 2008, which has since become a globally sought-after specialist for the restoration of classic sailing yachts and the construction of faithful replicas of lost classic boats.
YOU ASKED…
What is the anniversary vehicle of Mercedes-Maybach?
Mercedes-Maybach has created a unique S-Class model to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Robbe & Berking. The vehicle’s design is inspired by the legendary SPHINX 12mR yacht.
What is the colour scheme of the Mercedes-Maybach S 680?
The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 features a two-tone paint finish: nautical blue metallic in the upper section and MANUFAKTUR patagonia red bright in the lower section of the bodywork. A pinstripe in MANUFAKTUR opalite white metallic separates the two colours.
What interior features does the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class have?
The interior of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class showcases Maybach MANUFAKTUR Exclusive nappa leather in crystal white with diamond quilting. Other features include electric comfort doors at the rear, MANUFAKTUR door sill trims with red illuminated MAYBACH lettering, and the Burmester® high-end 4D surround sound system.
What is the history of the SPHINX yacht?
Built in 1939, the SPHINX was a club ship for the North German Regatta Association. Over the years, it changed hands and sailed under different names. In 2005, it was bought and restored by Oliver Berking and his friends. This led to the founding of the Robbe & Berking Classics yacht shipyard in 2008.
Editor’s Note: All listed prices were correct at the time of publication. This article contains editorial selections and paid partnerships. Please note that this article may contain some affiliate links to products and we may receive a commission for selected purchases.
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