Dmitry Yurov
A dream car is rarely described as «whatever you have in stock». Usually it comes down to the details: a rare colour, a particular specification, a limited edition — right down to that one line in the options list. For more than 15 years Hayk Avetisyan has been sourcing and delivering cars from all over the world. His track record includes a Mercedes G-Class Mansory worth around two million euros and a factory-armoured Mercedes-Maybach Guard V12. We spoke to Hayk about where the ordinary dealer catalogue ends, what happens to a car between the order and the handover of the keys, and whether there really are requests that have to be answered with «impossible».
— Hayk, when does a person realise that the car they want cannot be found in an ordinary showroom?
— Usually the moment the details appear. «I want an SUV» is one conversation. But once you need a specific colour, a particular interior, a set of options or a rare version, the choice narrows sharply. A dealership offers what it already has in stock, whereas a request like that has to be searched for across different markets. Price can play a part too: in my experience the difference against a dealer offer is sometimes 10–15%. But most often people do not come only to save money — they want that exact car, with no «something similar will do» compromise.
— After fifteen years in the business, can a car still surprise you?
— It can. The most unusual orders are factory-armoured cars for diplomats and major businessmen. One of the most expensive projects was a Mercedes G-Class Mansory worth about two million euros. But the one I remember most is a Mercedes-Maybach Guard V12 with VR10-level factory armour. It has a rare combination: the luxury you expect from a Maybach and an entirely different, maximum level of protection.
— Let us say the right car has been found. What journey does it make to its owner?
— In fact the search begins earlier — with a precise brief: model, specification, colour, budget and timing. Then a deposit is paid, usually around 10% of the price, and we look for a suitable car. Once it is found, we inspect it, reserve it, agree the purchase and arrange delivery via Georgia. After it arrives in Russia the owner pays the customs duties and the recycling fee, and receives the documents and the keys. On average about a month passes between the first conversation and the handover.
— The most nerve-racking part of an order like this is trusting people in another country. What do you check first?
— You cannot rely on one attractive photograph here. Practically all the cars I bring in are new: we buy them from official dealers or from partners we have worked with for years. Where possible I inspect the car myself; where not, my representatives on the ground do it. And we control the transport separately: the car travels with full insurance cover. In a story like this what matters is not a single check but the whole chain — from the seller to the logistics.
— And what if someone is convinced that their dream car can no longer be found?
— My answer is that impossible cars hardly exist. There are rare ones, complicated ones, ones that demand a very precise brief. If it is clear which car is needed and what the budget is, you can look for almost anything. The main thing is to start not with the word «impossible», but with the details.
