From the CJ Willys to the Toyota Land Cruiser, many of the best SUVs out there were born out of military demands. First produced in 1979, the G-Wagon got its name from the German word Geländewagen, which colloquially means 'cross country vehicle'. This box-shaped SUV was first commissioned by the Shah of Iran, who was at the time a significant shareholder of Mercedes. The entire journey from being used as a military vehicle to being considered a liability for the company, the G-Wagon saw many ups and downs before finally transforming into a modern-day favorite of celebrities like Cardi B.

The G-Wagon is thriving today and has exciting future prospects, but how it came into being 40 years ago is an interesting tale.

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The Iranian Connection

An Ochre Yellow Mercedes G-Wagon In The Desert
Via Pinterest / The Drive

The genesis for the G-Wagon came out of an unrelated but massive 20,000-truck order from the Shah of Iran in the 1970s. A significant shareholder in Mercedes at the time, the Shah's order also stood for a tempting deal. To fulfill the Shah's requirements, the carmaker required external help in its production phase.

This led to Mercedes collaborating with Steyr-Daimler-Puch, a military equipment manufacturer based in Austria. SDP built famous war machines like the Pinzgauer, a military transport with available 6-wheel drive systems. Mercedes further extended this collaboration when the Shah suggested that the vehicle be built as an all-wheel-drive SUV for military use in his empire.

Due to the Shah's stature and huge investments, the German car giant undertook this project as a priority and started designing the prototype with SDP.

Making Of The First Wagon

A Green 1979 Mercedes G-Wagon In The Snow
Via Pinterest / Drive Arabia

The development program for the G-Wagon went through most of the 70s, including frequent visits to German coalfields, the Sahara desert, and the Arctic Circle. After the preliminary testing stage, SDP began building the G-Wagon by hand in the Graz factory, preparing for its 1979 launch. The G-Wagon, even today, is made in the same factory.

Mercedes realized that the SUV could be altered just a little through the entire design and testing phase and be branded as a consumer vehicle. When it arrived in the general market, one could choose either a short or long-wheelbase variant. The former came in a two-door ragtop design, while the bigger model was available as a four-door SUV. Both these options were also available as windowless two-door vans, called Kastenwagen.

The 4-door coupe was standard for the military and had a more rigid and thicker chassis. The design of both variants was roughly the same except for the broader and longer body of the military version. The car further stood the test of time and evolved over the ages to be one of the toughest SUVs.

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A Series Of Ups And Downs

A Black 1998 Mercedes G-Wagon on the street.
Via Pinterest / Rover.Ebay.com

The changing wants of the market were too erratic for most carmakers to tackle. Especially with a vehicle like the G-Wagon, the task of adapting it to the time's needs was a tough one. The German automaker found itself debating whether the car should be focussed on a luxury experience or a sporty one. The first few iterations, coming from the military origin, were sporty all around and had a unique boxy shape. This didn't go well with the general public as the chassis and overall build was unsuitable for fitting both the urban and off-road terrains. In this period, many other cars overshadowed the Wagon when it came to being a city vehicle, and demand for a dedicated off-road caravan was not as much.

Later, Mercedes tried to make the car more on the lines of an urban hauler, which worked to a limited extent due to the shortcomings in the lack of adequate comfort in the interiors. All of this was finally tackled in 1998 when the G-Wagon was rebranded as a luxury vehicle with swapped interiors and features for a more luxurious and hi-tech experience.

This new and improved ride was termed the Mercedes G-Class, although the older name is still more recognizable and prevalent. With the onset of the 21st century, the car has become a one-of-a-kind style statement and class icon owned by some of the most influential celebrities around the world.

The G-Class, which is still more commonly known as the G-Wagon today, can be spotted in the garages of some famous names like Khloe Kardashian, Cardi B, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ranbir Kapoor, among others. Several celebrities are often seen riding in the majestic beauty, and some have also deemed the SUV as their favorite.

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