Golden Car: All that glisters is not gold

Mercedes C63 Gold

Luxury cars barely attract a second glance on the roads of the United Arab Emirates, so in one of Dubai's shopping malls, they decided to one stage further. In a region that has grown rich on the 'liquid gold' that keeps crankshafts turning all around the world, the local sheikhs can afford to splash out.The showroom in downtown Dubai had a range of makes on display, amongst them this Mercedes C63 AMG. A model that would normally cost around 82,000 US dollars – and that's before you start adding on the usual Arab potentate extras. This particular owner managed to make the forecourt price of his car seem like a mere down-payment by commissioning a very special paint job. And here, we're back on the topic of 'liquid gold'. The gold finish probably cost the equivalent of a tankful or two – in fact, it will have cost more than the car itself. After you've taken a look at the gallery, perhaps you'll have your own view of whether they succeeded in making this particular 'Silver Arrow' golden.