The history of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class began in 1969, when German company Daimler-Benz in cooperation with the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch successfully negotiated and already in 1971 started working together to create a unique off-road vehicle. The first G-model was built at the Puch factory in Graz-Tondorf, it was supposed to be a universal vehicle, equally suitable for both military and commercial use. At first it was mainly used by the Austrian and German military, later the Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi even ordered 20 thousand models for his army.
The first debut of the car took place in France in the city of Toulon in 1979 and later it was given the name Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen (translated from German as “car for off-road”). The goal was to create a reliable and powerful car that could cope with the most difficult driving conditions. Over time, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class became more and more popular among private car owners, thanks to its reliability, durability and prestige. It is interesting that in 1980, a customized armored car was made for Pope John Paul II. Quite soon, the civilian versions overtook the army versions in terms of production volume.
The G-Class has undergone many modernizations and improvements to comply with modern safety and comfort requirements. By 1987, manufacturers introduced steering and differential lock in standard equipment, as well as installed catalytic converters. After 1990, ABS was added to all vehicles. In 1990, the SUV was first released with permanent four-wheel drive. After a while, power was significantly improved, starting to use eight-cylinder and even twelve-cylinder engines. In 1999, the G 55 AMG became the new top model of the 463 lineup, and it was also the basis for the long-lasting success of the G-Class. The car reached its peak after 2001 with the introduction of the electronically controlled 4ETS traction system, ESP electronic stability program and BAS brake assistant.
The original design after more than 40 years has not changed much. The car has always had a large height with a rather small overall width. Also, angular shapes, large windshield, round headlights, flat roof and massive wheel arches remained the same.
Over time, there are almost no obvious military outlines left in the car, it moved to a full-fledged premium segment with leather seats and multimedia entertainment systems. Currently, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of the most recognizable and prestigious SUVs. The car is produced in different variations, from classic SUV to luxury and sporty versions, and is popular among car owners all over the world.
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