Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen celebrates 30 years

Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen celebrates 30 years

1979 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen
Seeing Sheikh Mohammed zipping around Dubai in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a rolling tribute to the strength of the German manufacturer’s overengineered pre-1995 designs. The Geländewagen is the only Merc to survive the cost-cutting 1995-to-2005 era, when quality hit the crapper. Even the attempt to replace it with the characterless GL-Class flopped. It is hard to imagine that the vehicle that is a favourite with sheikh-copycats has been around since 1979.

1979 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen

A classic celebrates its birthday. The Mercedes-Benz G was first introduced to the press on February 5, 1979. Its distinctive design, largely unchanged in thirty years, and its outstanding engineering have long since elevated the cross-country vehicle to cult status and made it one of the most coveted vehicles in the automobile market.

Development of the cross-country vehicle commenced in 1972 with a joint venture agreement between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch, based in the Austrian city of Graz. In 1975 the decision was taken to launch the series and build a new plant for it in Graz, where the G is still mostly made by hand even today.

At the 1979 market launch, the vehicle came with four engine variants, with outputs ranging from 72 hp to 150 hp. A station wagon and a panel van, each in short and long wheelbase versions, were the four original body variants available. These were complemented by an open cross-country vehicle with short wheelbase as a fifth body variant.

The current 463 series comprises three body variants: a two-door cabriolet, a three-door station wagon and a five-door station wagon. The top model of the current series is the five-door G 55 AMG Station Wagon, whose eight-cylinder engine delivers 507 hp. There are also special versions for commercial customers and the military.
Owing to continuous model refinement, the G-Class has kept abreast of technological progress. It boasts an extremely efficient drive system. Combining permanent all-wheel drive with the electronically controlled 4ETS traction system, ESP®, a “low-range” ratio, plus three driver-selectable differential locks, the G-Class is a match for any off-road challenge, and at the same time affords typical Mercedes-Benz handling safety on the tarmac.

From the very beginning the G-Class was designed for operation in extremely difficult terrain. A sturdy base is provided by a perimeter frame made of box-section longitudinal and cross members that afford extraordinary rigidity against bending and distortion. The frame carries robust rigid axles featuring large coil springs with long spring travel advantageous for off-road operation. With gradeability of up to 80 percent, directional stability on lateral slopes of up to 54 percent, 21 centimetres of ground clearance, a 36-degree angle of approach and a 27-degree angle of departure, the G can conquer even the most difficult off-road stretches. At the same time the chassis affords safe, comfortable on-road driving performance.

The proven basic technical concept remains unchanged even today. Nevertheless, the engineers have continuously upgraded the engineering and equipment since 1979. Automatic transmission and air conditioning have been available since 1981; since 1990 the G-Class has featured permanent all-wheel drive, differential locks on front and rear axles, and a fully-lockable centre differential as standard. And since 2001 the G-Class has additionally offered ESP®, 4ETS and Brake Assist, giving it a combination of efficient traction and handling safety systems unparalleled worldwide.

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Comments

  1. nice car!1!

  2. Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury, if you know what(zip) means in this region’s accent, you won’t used it again near to Sheikh’s names.

  3. Love this car….it should stand as proof to other car designers….Keep it simple!!!

  4. Interesting how people find new ways to get offended by stuff that mean something else in some other language on an ENGLISH website.

  5. Totally agreed with Dr Elvis!

  6. i love this site> am looking for a G class 1990 mercedes to buy. need details

  7. I,ve the love for German cars,& specially the mercedes.i expects to the price next time i visited your site for the cross country,used 04.

  8. owning one is the Pride of my Life
    “It boldly takes you to where no Man has gone before” compairing is like comparing a Horse to other 4X4s

  9. This Gelandewagen is dream of my life…I have dream, but not have money…Sheishs have money, they don have dreams…My dream is Mercedes-Benz-Gelandewagen…I will die, but my dream dont live my anymore….

  10. ah the car for all the wannabe arbabs here :p

  11. “The Geländewagen is the only Merc to survive the cost-cutting 1995-to-2005 era, when quality hit the crapper.”

    Oh yeah… Sad but true..

  12. @daoud

    You do know that name “daoud” offends a lot of indians ?… he bombed thier stock market in the 1990s… maybe you should change your name

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