Carved from rough wood

With the power of a rapidly growing sequoia, the Mercedes G-Class entered the group of ancient terrain legends such as Land Rover or Jeep 40 years ago. Carved as a rough block, but always with the latest off-road technology under the angular shape, the G is considered a style icon among the rough-legged all-wheel drive vehicles. 

This Mercedes is perched above things like a redwood tree that is over 1000 years old. The G-Class is not quite that old, but 40 years of production in an optically almost unchanged form are sufficient by automotive standards for the status of a Methuselah among off-roaders. While the Land Rover is pausing and Jeep and Toyota Land Cruiser have already changed their functional clothing several times, the Benz remains true to its basic form even in the new edition launched by 2018. Edged contours, which were already presented to 1973 as a solid wooden model and were finalized in cooperation between Mercedes and Steyr-Daimler-Puch until they went into series production at the beginning of 1979 in Graz, Austria. 

It was the start of an off-road crop that the 4x4 world had never seen before: The Mercedes G won the Paris-Dakar Rally and was the first to explore the cold pole and other hostile areas. It serves the Pope, presidents and police authorities as an adequate means of transportation, is used by forestry authorities and fire departments, is a “wolf” for the German armed forces and the UN - and yet the star is also considered an extravagant lifestyle vehicle, with powerful V12 engines and Maybach Signet also became a rival to Range Rover or Bentley Bentayga. Nevertheless, this gnarled box defies the trend towards the soft-washed SUV, because the Mercedes G does not only have the name SUV in its type code.

It's like the gigantic Sequoia trees. Off-road vehicles that are still made of good wood today, that is, can take a lot and appear in a rough shell, are protected by species. Not so in the era before the SUV glut. Back in the 1970s, a 4 × 4 crawler was only accepted if he declared alpine climbing gardens and desert sandpits to be his living room. This is exactly how the story of the G-Class began, which was conceived when there was insufficient military funding for SUV projects. This led to a cooperation between the then Daimler-Benz AG and the Austrian all-wheel drive specialist Steyr-Daimler-Puch - who had amazed the Swabians with his legendary off-road vehicles Puch Pinzgauer and Haflinger. The little alpinists made in Austria were able to stand up to the Unimog, considered by experts to be indomitable, on Unimog's very own playground, the Sauberg in Gaggenau.

Now everything went quickly. Under the technical direction of the Puch engineer Erich Ledwinka, the G-Class combined all the features of robust climbing artists with the technical features of former Noble cruisers á la Range Rover or Monteverdi Safari. On that not only auxiliary services, authorities and military order the German-Austrian off-roaders, but also the leisure society, long-distance travelers, politicians and celebrities. For example, the crawler with the Mercedes logo or Puch logo (for sales in the Alpine countries and Eastern Europe) capitulates from the outset to neither slopes with 80 percent nor water passages with a draft of almost half a meter. For the damp element, the air intake system of the G is in such a clear height that the Swabian-Styrian Steiger can dive in some versions even a whole meter later. Just as important: thanks to the fully synchronized transfer case, the all-wheel drive can be engaged while driving and 100 percent differential locks on the axles do the rest. Over the years, more traction helpers will be added, such as permanent four-wheel drive (from 1989) and electronic propulsion assistants (from 2001).

It is no wonder that the English and American specialist media classified the adventurer made in Austria as a new challenger for Land Rover and Jeep from the very beginning. And as the 165 km / h faster 2,8-liter six-cylinder, the top-of-the-range 280 GE was able to take on 1979 with brisk V8, but the German off-road vehicle only made it to the United States with 2001. Since there was already 260 kW / 354 PS strong 5,0-liter V8 and a little later with about 350 kW / 475 horsepower from 5,5 liter capacity for the title "strongest production off-roader". After all, not only the Americans love superlatives, show-off and pomp.

Pop celebrities like Eric Clapton or Tina Turner just as much like to rely on the up to three and a half ton heavy fortress - optionally with armor - like potentates and politicians. Since John Paul II, even the Holy See has relied on custom-made, traditionally mystic white painted papamobiles under the sign of the G. The monstrous G-Class colossi like the almost two and a half meter high G 2015 500 × 4² with portal axes, on the other hand, are trendy accessories for social -Media stars like Kylie Jenner. But that's not all the honors for the 4 × 4, because the successes in off-road rallies meant that the G-Class was also a winner in the famous comic adventures of the cartoonists Marc Wasterlain and Jean Graton and in Hollywood blockbusters of “Die slowly ... ”until“ Jurassic World ”brings order.

Incidentally, the G-Class has always been expensive. In 1979, Mercedes calculated about as much for a 230 G station wagon with a 2,3-liter four-cylinder as it did for an S-Class sedan with a long wheelbase and almost half as much as a Land Rover for its station wagon. The V8 powerhouse G 55 AMG broke the € 2004 mark in 100.000, penetrating the spheres of twelve-cylinder luxury liners. The Mercedes 4 × 4 was finally qualified for the Club of Millionaires in 2017 in the form of the 5,35 meter long Maybach G 650 Landaulet, of which 99 units were distributed at prices from 750.000 euros. As far as the running costs of a basic petrol engine are concerned, a well-filled wallet is also useful. At the latest when penetrating the jungle of the big city, a petrol station app proves to be useful.

However, it is also cheaper, as relatively efficient diesel and recently the more rustic professional line showed, but above all the official and military vehicles available from the beginning. As a command and rescue vehicle at the fire brigade, police, auxiliary services and armed forces from the USA to Australia, the G-Class showed its most versatile side. This also includes licensed productions such as the Peugeot P 4, which gave the French 1981 an all-wheel drive model that also cuts a fine figure during parades.     

In fact, the calculation of the fathers of the G-Class not only worked, the colossal box exceeded all sales expectations and, thanks to the preservation of monuments, mutated into a mammoth that will not die out. The almost indestructible, durable construction of the G-Class also speaks against this. While the plant in Graz was designed for a maximum of 10.000 units per year, customers soon ordered twice the number. And once the hype subsided, Mercedes countered with new versions, such as the 40. Birthday. Because this celebrates the G-Class as technically retreaded optical Oldie.

Tungsten Nickel / SP-X

In brief

Model history of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class:
1969: Daimler-Benz AG and the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG (SDP) explore possibilities for cooperation for the first time
1971: In Gaggenau, the Unimog is compared with the Puch off-road vehicles Haflinger and Pinzgauer. The Austrian all-wheel drive commercial vehicles are proving themselves in such a way that cooperation is sought for a new off-road vehicle
1972: Erich Ledwinka from Puch heads the technical development for the future G-Class
1973: A wooden model of the future off-road vehicle is created
1974: driver testing of the first prototype
1977: Daimler-Benz and SDP found the joint off-road vehicle company (GfG) to produce the G-Class. The plant is built in Graz-Thondorf
1979: The G-Class will be presented to the press for the first time in southern France in early February. Production start on the 1. February with the types 240 GD, 300 GD, 230 G and 280 GE. In Austria, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Cuba, Mongolia and the Eastern European COMECON countries (Council for Mutual Economic Aid), the G-models compete under the Puch brand name 
1980: Based on a 230 G with a long wheelbase, the first "Papamobil" for the Vatican is created. 1982 is followed by another Pope car for John Paul II. With the conventional “G”, closed panel vans with short or long wheelbases expand the range
1981: On the occasion of a facelift, the 280 GE and 300 GD have automatic transmissions, air conditioning, longitudinal benches for the loading area, additional tanks, tropical roof, headlamp protection grille, cable winch, a hardtop for the convertible and the mechanical power take-off. In July, the GfG joint venture, founded in 1977, was transferred in full to Steyr-Daimler-Puch. The Austrian company (today Magna Steyr AG & Co. KG) has been manufacturing the G for Mercedes-Benz since then. The Stuttgart company will officially appear as the manufacturer of the G-model in the future. The Peugeot P 4 is based on the G model, but with engines from the Peugeot 504 and gearboxes from the Peugeot 604. From 1981 to 1985, 7.500 vehicles are built at the Peugeot plant in Sochaux, and around 6.000 more P 4s are built by Panhard by 1988 
1982: 230 GE with petrol injection and 125 PS replaces the 230 G with a carburetor engine. Additional heating, wide tires on alloy wheels and fender flares are available on request
1983: Second facelift with the introduction of new metallic colors and
a five-speed transmission. Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur win the Paris-Dakar rally on 280 GE. A year earlier, Ickx and Brasseur finished second on 280 GE 
1985: Third facelift with differential locks, central locking and rev counter as standard. Instead of the simple tarpaulin, the convertible has a folding roof 
1986: 230 GE and 280 GE are available with a regulated catalytic converter. The 50 000 rolls in July. Copy of the G-Class from the assembly line
1987: Fourth model update with new optional extras like power windows. The chassis with cab and 3,12 meter wheelbase is added to the range and the 250 GD with 84 PS replaces the 240 GD
1988: Rolf Seitz wins the European Championship in Trial at the G-Class, a year later Heinrich Wangler repeated on a G this triumph
1989: For the 10 anniversary, the special model 230 GE Classic will be released in a limited edition of 300 copies. Presentation of the new 463 series with permanent all-wheel drive, fine wood interior trim and optional ABS in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show
1990: Market launch of the 463 series in April with the 230 GE, 300 GE, 250 GD and 300 GD models in three body versions. End of production of the 460 series
1992: CKD production of the G-Class in Greece. Market launch of the 461 series for professional users as a further development of the previous 460 series with the types 230 GE and 290 GD. First model 463 with optional stainless steel spare wheel cover, side running boards and burr walnut. Also new is the 350 GD turbo diesel. In June delivery of the 100 000. Off-road vehicle of the G-Class
1993: In the 461 series, a chassis with cab and 3,40 meter wheelbase are included in the program. Also new is the 500 GE eight-cylinder special model with 241 PS in an edition of 500 copies. The G-models are now officially called G-Class
1994: Second model care 463 with internally ventilated front disc brakes and standard driver airbag. The 210 PS strong G 320 replaces the previous G 300 
1996: The 177 PS strong G 300 turbo diesel replaces the G 350 turbo diesel as part of the third facelift 
1997: The convertible of the G-Class with electro-pneumatic top is presented.
In the 463 series, the V6 engine in the G 320 replaces the previous inline six-cylinder engine. In the 461 series, the 290 GD turbo diesel with 120 PS replaces the 290 GD with naturally aspirated diesel engine 
1998: Fourth model update with new tip type G 500 (296 PS). The Canadian company Magna International Inc acquires Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, but the cooperation with the Stuttgart companies continues
1999: March will be 20. Birthday of the G-Class presented the 400 limited edition special model G 500 Classic. New are the G 55 AMG with 354 PS strong V8 and the armored Mercedes-Benz G 500 Guard
2000: At the Paris Salon, the G 400 CDI debuts with V8 diesel (250 PS) as a replacement for the G 300 turbodiesel. The V8 models come with a chrome radiator grille and body color bumpers. With this facelift, the distribution of sales between Mercedes and Puch ends, from now on all G-Class vehicles carry the star on the radiator
2001: New vehicle dynamics systems such as ESP, Brake Assist and the electronic traction system 4ETS. Market launch of the G-Class in the USA 
2002: The G 270 CDI (156 PS) starts with five-cylinder diesel 
2004: In Geneva, the G 55 AMG debuts with V8 supercharged engine and 476 PS
2006: The G 55 AMG now delivers smooth 500 PS. The G 320 CDI replaces the Diesel G 270 CDI and G 400 CDI. At the same time the G 320 is omitted. The G-Class reaches the cold pole of Earth, the Russian city of Ojmjakon, where minus 71,2 degrees were measured  
2007: The G 55 AMG now makes 507 PS. New cockpit for the G-Class with
with DVD navigation system and rear lights in LED optics. From December onwards, a G 500 will also be used as a vehicle for the Pope in the Vatican, which Pope Francis used on a visit to Brazil in July 2013
2008: Australia orders 1.200 G-Class vehicles for its military. The G 500 gets a new 5,5-liter V8 engine with 388 hp and 530 Nm of torque. Changed radiator grille in 3-lamellar design for the G-Class and hard disk navigation and voice control from autumn
2009: The G-Class celebrates its 30. Birthday with the special edition 30
2012: The G 63 AMG with 5,5-liter V8 (544 hp) replaces the G 55 AMG supercharger. The new top model is the G 65 AMG with a six-liter V12 and 612 hp and 1.000 Nm of torque
2013: The G 63 AMG 6 × 6 celebrates its premiere in March as a near-series show car. The pick-up will be built in small series with 2014 hp 544-liter V5,5 from 8
2015: The G 500 4 × 4² with 422 hp four-liter V8 has taken over the portal axles of the G 63 AMG 6 × 6 and has 45 centimeters of ground clearance and a meter fording depth
2016: This year around 20.000 vehicles of the 463 series will be produced in Graz - this is the highest number ever in a year and twice as much as assumed in 1979 as the maximum annual capacity. The G 500 is available with a new four-liter V8 engine (422 hp)
2017: The Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet with 612 PS strong V12 is produced in a small series limited to 99 pieces. The 300.000th G-Class rolls off the assembly line in summer
2018: In January, a new G-Class with a design that has hardly changed in appearance makes its debut in Detroit. However, the off-road vehicle is 5,3 centimeters longer and 1,2 centimeters wider. The chassis retains the classic rigid axle at the rear, while a double wishbone front axle with independent suspension now works at the front. Their components are attached directly to the vehicle's ladder frame
2019: Mercedes celebrates the 40. Birthday of the G-Class with various promotions at classic events and fairs