Imagine all your friends are offroading, throwing a jeep jamboree. There are a couple of Toyota fans who brought their Tacomas to mix with the Wranglers. Then you roll up in a thirty-year-old military truck. You lock your differentials, rev up your diesel engine, and make record time up the trail or fording the river. Best of all, you do it in a Mercedes---a Mercedes convertible.
That is the exact flavor of cool that Expedition Motor Company of New Jersey is selling. They start with ex-military first-generation Gelandewagens. Then their team spends over one thousand hours lovingly restoring each truck. Better yet, every single truck is completely custom. Expedition Motor’s buyers get to pick the precise color they want, the array of off-road-ready accessories, and enjoy a Mercedes that is unlike anything else on-road or off. Read on for a detailed look at the Wolf by Expedition Motor Company's "Wolf."
Military Surplus Mercedes
The first-generation Mercedes G Wagen exploded onto the offroading market in 1979. The first-generation was known internally as the W460 and it boasted three locking differentials, manual transmissions, and an optional diesel engine. Its unapologetic utilitarian design endeared it to many 4x4 enthusiasts. Mercedes expanded the engine and transmission options, and over time the modern G-Class Mercedes became a cultural icon. Still, the modern G550 is an uber-luxurious off-roader. Mercedes even offers classes to teach G Wagen owners how to offroad in their luxury SUVs.
The first W460s earned renown for their capability and reliability. Mercedes chose to build even the short wheelbase trucks as a body on a full-frame, instead of as a lightweight unibody. In addition, the locking differentials were unheard of at the time—and are still rare—but allowed the vehicle to fight its way through any offroad terrain. Finally, the engine options may have seemed dated, with no V8s or turbodiesels available, but they were tried-and-true Mercedes technology which continues to prove themselves capable of any task, outlasting more “complex” engines.
Over 400,000 Mercedes G Wagens have been built over the vehicle’s incredible 41-year run. Many of these trucks went right into militaries or corporate fleets. The folks at Expedition Motor Company have contacted militaries worldwide and asked for first-refusal on any retiring cabriolets. Once they have sourced a G Model, Expedition Motor Company begins an extensive inspection and custom restoration.
The Bulletproof Drivetrain
Unlike restomod outfits, Expedition Motor Company restores their trucks with stock engines and drivetrains. They complete a careful inspection and then a teardown of each stout Mercedes diesel. After testing compression, they remove and inspect the cylinder head, the camshaft, and the engine block. Regardless of condition, they always refinish the engine block and true the cylinder head. They replace the head gasket, head bolts, timing belt, crankshaft seals, and oil pan gasket. After reassembly, the mechanics also re-core the radiator and replace the water pump.
Expedition Motor Company gives the transmission and transfer case similar attention, with all internal components inspected then clutch, throw-out bearing, gaskets, and seals replaced regardless of condition. At the same time, the technicians remove the axles to test and inspect axle shafts, hubs, and differentials. They then replace worn components, all seals, and all gaskets--before greasing the units and reinstalling them. They media blast these components and the frame, before treating everything with anti corrosives and reassembling.
The Gelandewagen Wolf is a legendary vehicle, and Expedition Motor Company makes their builds even more reliable with a full brake rebuild, even replacing all brake hoses. At the same time, they replace the wiring harness with a new harness. Finally, they restore the trucks to stock handling by replacing all the springs, shock absorbers, and the bushings in suspension and steering components.
Fit and Finish
The mechanics at Expedition Motor Company restore the G Wagen to a highly reliable and capable condition. This truck then becomes the base for the customization team. Expedition Motor Company sets itself apart with incredible attention to detail in the final restoration. The interiors are all updated and upgraded, with eye-catching and comfortable materials. The bodywork team media blasts each body panel, addresses any issues with its sheet metal, and primes it with an anti-corrosive. They replace every seal and gasket for a freshly weather-tight vehicle. Finally, they hand fit every panel, triple-checking the vehicle for perfect fit and symmetry. The newly balanced rims are wrapped in premium BF Goodrich tires. Even the headlights are upgraded to modern LED units. Before they deliver the vehicle, they road-test its every system.
Customization And Cost
The Expedition Motor Company website features a customization engine, so clients can explore the array of colors and other features available. The Wolf is available in Black, Mauritius Blue, Mystic Brown, Grey, Agate Green, Olive, Nebula Green, Magma Red, Silver, Blood Orange, Orange Crush, Solarbeam Yellow, White, or Sky Blue. See videos of past Wolf builds.
In addition, customers can opt for a nearly stock-looking truck, or a highly outfitted one. Expedition Motor Company offers an optional winch bumper, brush guard, several soft-top variations, a snorkel system, a jerry can holder, body-color jerry cans, and headlight and turn signal guards. Check out the customization engine on the Expedition Motor Company website.
The painstaking, hand-finished restorations of Expedition Motor Company do not come cheap: their base model Gelandewagen Wolf costs just over $100,000. But customers enjoy a personally customized Expedition vehicle, guaranteed to put a smile on their face for years to come. What's more, the cost of buying and tricking out a new G63 can be much higher. Expedition Motor Company offers a reliable, custom G-Wagon at a reasonable price.