In February 1979, Mercedes built a Military all-purpose 4WD type vehicle known as the 'G' class. A joint venture with Steyr-Daimler-Puch (SDP) who designed the G-Wagon. G-Wagon is in short for 'Gelaendewagen' (All Terrain Vehicle in German). In the first 20 years of production, 140,000 units have left the production line. This off-roader has revealed itself as a true classic with considerable potential for the future.
G-Wagon is the only vehicle in the world that featured both ETS and three 100% differential locks. The car is fully water-resistant up to a fording depth of 50 cm.
Being one of the most expansive off-road vehicle, the cars are being used mainly as a status symbol for life-style purposes.
In Mototransport, the G-Wagon won the legendary 'Paris-Dakar' rally in 1983, driven by Jacky lckx and Claude Brasseur.