Many know the Mercedes-Benz G-Class under the name Gelandewagen. It is one of the best cars in the German manufacturer’s history. It has innate power, is distinguished by a high level of safety and is appreciated by many for its excellent off-road qualities. This model was created 45 years ago, but today, it remains popular. It is actively bought in dealerships and at Mercedes-Benz G-Class salvage auctions.
Birth of a famous car
The history of Gelandewagen begins in the 70s of the last century. At that time, M. R. Pahlavi (the Iranian ruler and a significant Mercedes shareholder) proposed creating a military vehicle that could combine reliability, safety and good cross-country ability in any conditions. Developments were carried out from 1972 to 1978, the apogee of which was the release of the G-Class 460 SUV in 1979. The author of the idea to create this model placed an order for 20 thousand units of the new car for the needs of the Iranian army. However, a few months later, Pahlavi was overthrown, and the order for producing many G-Class 460 was canceled. After that, the car was offered to representatives of the Bundeswehr. They considered buying it for a long time but still refused due to the excessively high cost and chose a cheaper option (Volkswagen Iltis) for their military units.
Transformation of Gelandewagen into a civilian car
Despite the military’s refusal, Mercedes decided not to abandon the idea of producing a universal SUV. In 1980, the company received an order from the Vatican to produce the Popemobile. This unique model (G-Wagon 230G) had a particular body shape and was distinguished by a transparent compartment. The latter was made of thermoplastic and was intended so that the Pope could stand and greet the faithful while driving.
In the mid-80s, the Gelandewagen received several updates that made it more adapted to the needs of the civilian population. They affected such essential aspects as controllability, reliability and comfort. In 1990, Mercedes-Benz released the second-generation model. It was produced in several versions, which made it possible to expand the range of the company’s SUVs as much as possible. The new cars slightly changed their appearance and interior design. The latter became as luxurious as possible, which meant that Mercedes-Benz completely abandoned the military SUV project and switched the company to civilian consumers.
In 1993, Gelandewagen appeared on the American market. This event became possible with an updated car version meeting US standards. It was highly successful and immediately won the hearts of Americans who love powerful and luxurious vehicles. Rapid sales growth became the basis for creating new versions of Gelandewagen. They were initially sold in Germany and other European countries, then came to the USA. In addition to luxury, Mercedes added many valuable additions to its famous SUV. So Gelandewagen has various security systems, comfort functions and much more, which are inherent exclusively to civilian models.
Relatively recently, the third-generation Gelandewagen was introduced. This car combined modern technologies, a well-recognizable design and all the best that Mercedes-Benz is ready to offer its customers. It became a bright representative of the luxury SUV class and surprised many experts. The history of Gelandewagen does not end there. New versions are expected to appear in the future, occupying leading positions in various ratings.
Gelandewagen is a legendary SUV that was created for the military but used almost exclusively by civilians. Its non-standard appearance, excellent characteristics, versatility, safety and good off-road capabilities make it popular even 45 years after its birth. Today, this car is considered a sign of luxury, and many drivers dream of owning it.
