1985 Mercedes-Benz G Wagen – Project Profile

The Mercedes-Benz G Class, or G Wagen as many know it, has become something of a caricature of itself these days. Sure, it’s laden with tech and you can get bonkers-fast AMG versions, but they sort of miss the point. The G Class was, when it was offered to the public, a machine to traverse the un-traversable. It was an answer to the Land Rovers, the Land Cruisers and the other 4×4 offerings of the world. It was a brave new foray for Mercedes-Benz. Sure, it had the experience of the muddy stuff with agricultural and commercial machinery like the Unimog. But would the same people who walked into dealerships for an S Class be tempted by the G? Yes, as it happened. Very much yes. 

The G Class had military roots (it was actually a suggestion from the Shah of Iran, who was a significant shareholder in Mercedes-Benz at the time) but it seemingly had unlimited civilian appeal. Customers loved the rugged, boxy lines, they loved that it was a serious off-roader and they loved that, above all, it was a Mercedes-Benz. Bosses at Range Rover looked on nervously. 

While the G Wagen, as everyone calls it now, is perhaps a bit silly with a ‘21’ plate on it, there is no denying that the old school is still very, very cool. Buy a new one (for the price of a small house) and people will probably laugh. Buy an old one, though, and you’ll be the king or queen of cool. A timeless design, the original without question is the best. 

What is it? 

It might be a bit cliché to say, but this is a proper ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of car. Currently, with top-notch Mercedes-Benz specialists, Edward Hall, this 1985 W460 G Wagen is a one owner from new car. No, really. It was a demonstrator for Woking Motors of Walton-on-Thames before being sold to the people who would have it until recently. It still wears the original dealer plates, and the keys even retain the ‘demonstrator’ tag. 

A 230GE, it’s fitted with a 2,299cc inline-four petrol engine with 125bhp (well, sort of – we’ll get to that). It has a manual five-speed transmission, too. It’s covered 119k over the course of its life and is completely, other than the obvious consumables, original. No gaudy ‘rims’, no stick-on chrome, no tacky AMG badges. This is pure. 

Why is it a project? 

Well, here’s the thing. Yes, this W460 G Wagen has indeed only had one owner. However, it hasn’t been on the road for, ahem, twenty years. That is of course, somewhat problematic. The biggest issue lies with the M115 engine, which seems to be locked solid. Bad times. More bad news can be found at the back, where rust has crept in under the rear light units (a common G Wagen problem). There’s also a hole in the driver’s seat, but in the grand scheme, that’s nothing. 

Don’t be put off though. The team at Edward Hall say the car is actually remarkably solid. It’s never been welded, it has never had any paintwork, there is no evidence of accident damage. It is, in many respects, quite remarkable. It just doesn’t, you know, work. But don’t be disheartened. The M115 is a common lump, so sourcing a new one will be simple enough. As for everything else – and there is a lot, as every hose, bush, rubber and seal will need changing – parts availability is surprisingly good. 

It needs a lot, make no mistake. But it’s all mechanical. Other than the rust under the lights and the hole in the seat, there doesn’t seem to be anything visually wrong with it. So, buy all seals and rubbers and so on, inspect the engine, replace it if needs be. New tyres, new brakes, refurbish the suspension, inspect the transmission, new clutch while you’re there, new exhaust… okay, yeah, it’s a lot of work. But at the end of it, you will have one of the most desirable cars on the planet. One there is always, always a hungry market for. 

Five things to look for:

1) Rust

We trust the guys at Edward Hall implicitly, but it never hurts to have a look underneath it yourself. They’ll probably put it on a ramp for you to have a look at. That way, you can make sure there is nothing that scares you.

2) Electrics

Two decades is a long time for a car to sit. In that time, have any critters been at the wiring? Has it dried out and is it falling apart? 

3) Engine

If Edward Hall says it’s locked up, then you can be sure it has. But still, have a look. What can be salvaged and reused? Whip a plug out and get a camera down the bore? How bad is it? Locked up doesn’t mean scrap. You might be able to rebuild it.

4) Interior 

The hardest thing to find is going to be interior trim. It all looks good – bar the driver seat – and as such, can hopefully be saved. But have a close look to check the condition. Twenty years is a long time, and rubber and fabric can degrade in that time, and metal components can corrode. 

5) Paperwork 

If it’s had just the one owner, the paperwork should make for interesting reading. It never hurts to have a look through in order to learn more about the hows and whens of a classic like this.

What should you do with it? 

It’s too original to mess about with, so the only way to go is down the road of restoration. No matter what you want to do, a mechanical overhaul is a must. So that will be your first port of call. But here’s where this project is different from the others – it’s with a specialist. The team at Edward Hall may well, for a cost of course, be willing to do the work for you. And given that they’re experts in such matters, there’s no firm better suited. Spend a bit more than the asking price, and at the bare minimum get them to restore it to running condition, then bring it home as a running, driving car and do the rest – brakes, wheels, suspension, trim etc – yourself at your leisure. And at the end of it, you’ll have a unicorn – an original, never painted, unmodified G Class. Swish.

Need more choice? Take a look at the current selection of Mercedes G Wagons for sale.