There was a time when a “63” badge on the boot lid of a Mercedes-Benz guaranteed that a snarling 6.2-litre V-8 engine built by AMG would be lurking underneath the bonnet. The number became so synonymous with high-performance models that the manufacturer has stuck with it, despite hybrid assistance and turbocharging leading to smaller-capacity motors being fitted. Then there’s what the “63” represents in the case of the G-Wagen offered here.

The current G 63 AMG benefits from a 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V-8. However, this car contains a mammoth 6.3-litre V-12 making approximately 440 horsepower via a five-speed automatic gearbox. Ordered new via Gargash Mercedes-Benz of Dubai and delivered on 10 October 2001, this G-Wagen is reportedly one of just five examples of the original 12-cylinder G-Wagen produced. That makes it among the very rarest AMG creations in history.

Accordingly, this model was never openly offered to the public, nor advertised via sales materials, or even exhibited at any motor shows. It was in fact so exclusive, and so closely guarded, that prospective buyers were hand-selected from the AMG customer base and personally invited to purchase one. However, this example would not be hidden from the public as part of a private collection. An official state vehicle, which wore the number plate “1”, this car was owned from new until 2023 by the royal family of Dubai.

Presented in its factory shade of Alabaster White, the exterior benefits from a chrome finish for the radiator grille and a stainless-steel cover for the boot lid-mounted spare wheel, while the lower body was protected by high-grade steel. The car sits on 18-inch, five-spoke wheels constructed out of light alloy. The interior, meanwhile, comprises grey leather with burred walnut veneer trim and velour floor mats. Notable equipment includes an electric sliding roof, TV tuner, CD changer, Nokia handsfree system, plus heated seats, and ultrasonic backup assist. The odometer displayed 44,509 kilometres at the time of cataloguing.

Retained by royalty for two decades, this very special G 63 V12 AMG presents an unmissable opportunity to acquire what is surely the finest example of one of AMG’s most secretive and ultra-exclusive models.