Mercedes-Benz G-Class History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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The G-Class (Geländewagen, the 'G-Wagen') launched in 1979 as a rugged, body-on-frame military and utility 4x4, keeping its boxy shape and three locking differentials through decades of evolution (W460, W461, W463).
A heavily revised W463 arrived for 2019, keeping the iconic look while modernizing the chassis and interior; the G-Class is now an ultra-luxury status symbol, topped by the V8 G63 AMG.
Generations
First generation · W460 / W461 / W463
The original ladder-frame G-Wagen; the W463 luxury version arrived in 1990 and ran for 28 years.
1979 Photo: “1979 Mercedes-Benz G-Class” by MrWalkr / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1980 Photo: “1980 Mercedes-Benz 300GD (W460) Wagon” by Coolalabright / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1987 Photo: “1987 Mercedes-Benz 230 GE (G 460) 3-door wagon (2015-08-09) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.
1990 Photo: “1990 Mercedes-Benz W460 300 GD, front left, Motul Trans Sport Show 2024, 05-25-2024” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · W463 (2019)
A heavily revised chassis, powertrain, and interior keeping the iconic boxy body; current G-Class.
Body styles
- 4-door SUV
- 2-door SUV
- Convertible (early)
Notable special editions & performance variants
G63 AMG
Twin-turbo V8 high-performance G-Class — the volume luxury-performance G-Wagen.
G65 AMG
Bi-turbo V12 G-Class — the ultimate first-generation G-Wagen; US 2016–2018.
Related models
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