Mercedes’ military off-roader turned passenger car has enjoyed a production run of over 40 years now and, following a recent re-design, is still going strong. This long wheelbase example hails from the early days of the civilian version of the G Wagon and serves as a great advertisement for their build quality and longevity, helped in part by a low stress stretch in the South of France until more recently. 

The low mileage is thought to be genuine and, although sadly lacking the paperwork to support this, the condition of the checked cloth interior supports it. Following its repatriation from the continent in 2018, it was lightly restored and, although very much to the owner’s tastes, it could be restored to its original metallic green and enjoyed as a well-preserved classic. 

On the other hand, it is very usable in its current condition and, if you wanted to enjoy the car for the purpose for which it was originally designed, then it could be more of a working classic that could be green-laned, without fear of scratching the paintwork. That’s very much a decision for the winning bidder though so if you want a 4x4 to show Land Rover owners how it can be done, with the potential to be further restored, then get bidding now.

While there isn’t the paperwork to back up the recorded mileage, the condition of the interior points to it being genuine. The blue and beige checked upholstery looks to be original and, aside from some wear to the driver’s seat from getting in and out, it’s all in great condition with no rips, tears, or marks. 

The door cards are in good condition with only the driver’s side door pocket missing, the dashboard is unmarked and shows no splits. The dials, buttons and switches all function as intended. Up above the headlining is clean and free from sag. There is an uprated amplifier as well as subwoofer.

In order to protect the original vinyl matting, a full set of carpets has been installed as has a significantly upgraded sound system which includes a subwoofer in the boot. This could be removed if desired. Also in the boot is the spare wheel; the larger alloy does not fit on the spare wheel carrier on the rear door, although the seller reassures us that it’s a £50 upgrade to get a carrier in the correct size.

While it’s true that the current paint scheme will not appeal to everyone, the good news is that the bodywork was thoroughly prepared before applying the paint and there should be no corrosion underneath should the next owner choose to have the car repainted. 

Furthermore, all the other trim remains in good condition and, having been sunning itself in the south of France, the seller reports that the underside looks very solid and shows no signs of off road damage.

The car has been upgraded with slightly later (although still genuine) G Wagon alloys and they are in generally good condition, with a set of nearly new tyres having plenty of tread remaining. Overall, it’s very usable in its current condition but provides scope for further improvement if a new owner chooses to restore the car to more original specification.

Mechanically completely standard, and with the benefit of a recent new battery, the 2.8 litre petrol engine starts first time every time. It goes well and, according to the seller who also owns a selection of Land Rovers, it’s much better to drive on the road than a Defender and changes gear smoothly. 

There is is one foible: under load in reverse, the lever needs to be held in place to avoid popping out, which is apparently down to a small clip in the gearbox and is a known issue. It’s never bothered the seller however and otherwise there are no problems to report with no unusual noises and everything else operating just as it should. 

A well preserved classic 4x4 that could be happily used as is or further restored.