Multiple Personalities? 1983 Mercedes-Benz 280GE
Military vehicle? Popemobile? Kardashian-cruiser? Gelandewagen? I’ll explain that one in a minute. Or as the current owner of this G-Wagen claims, “Beach cruiser?” The answer is all of the above! G-Class Benzes have been in production since 1979 and come with an identity with influences from every corner of the world. Initially developed as a military vehicle at the suggestion of the Shah of Iran, here in the U.S. they are highly coveted by Hollywood actors and superstar athletes as a status symbol of wealth and celebrity. This G-wagen, located just south of Boston and not too far from the beaches of Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Cape Cod, has an asking price of $26,000 and is for sale here on Craigslist.
The nickname G-wagen comes from Gelandewagen, the German word for “cross country cruiser.” Even though the G was initially developed for military use, once Mercedes-Benz decided to offer a civilian version it didn’t take the company long to put the G in step right behind Land Rover’s Range Rover. Despite adopting the attributes of a luxury 4×4, there is no mistaking this was and still is a very capable off-road vehicle, one of just a few to come with three locking differentials. The seller claims this two-door is a “rare find” and explains this G-wagen is the right-hand drive European version (MB didn’t export G-Class cars to the U.S. until 2002). The seller claims everything is original sans the tires, radio, and new “paint job.” I am guessing the re-paint was an effort to maintain its original white color, or was it previously a different color? It would be nice to know. Either way the white paint on black trim is definitely both classic and classy.
I love the simplistic design of older 4×4’s. But upon first look at the interior of this truck, I am left feeling a bit disappointed. I guess I was expecting more, it’s Spartan design by no means even whispering plushness or luxury. I am certainly beginning to appreciate the vehicle’s military roots. The seller provides ample photos of the interior, including the second-row bench seat as well as the fold-down jump seats (with interesting plaid upholstery) in the rear cargo area. All in all, things look well-kept and clean, although perhaps just a bit more Mother’s would give the slightly faded vinyl of the steering wheel and center console some more luster.
Unfortunately, there are no seller-provided photos of the engine bay. We do know this truck has just over 89,000 miles on the clock and the seller claims “the engine runs great” having gone through a recent tune-up. It comes with a 6 cylinder, fuel injected, 4-speed automatic that produces about 155 horsepower. There are no photos to prove, but the seller claims the undercarriage is rust-free. Wait a minute, the ad continues with the seller trying to explain that there is no rust in an overall sense, “but if you examine up close you will find something like the size of a tip of a pen to the size of a dime…more in like a crease or obscure area, not like in the middle of a door or hood.” I thought we were talking about the undercarriage? OK, I guess the seller’s being honest or attempting to be honest. Craigslist ads that read like an exercise in free association are always entertaining!
Traveling Old King’s Highway on the Cape, it might take one a few extra seconds to positively identify this rare G-wagen if you were to approach it from behind. When was the last time you saw a rear mounted fuel filler neck on a vehicle? Check-out the lipped edge of the roof, tastefully accented in black. These trucks are certainly distinct in appearance from every angle. The seller’s price of $26,000 seems to be pretty much in the expected range of a well preserved G-Class from the early 1980’s, but in case you don’t have that kind of cash there is the option to trade or barter. I wonder what the seller might consider?
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Comments
WHAT THE EPH?? “the right-hand drive European version” – Europe drives just like we do, in LHD cars on the right side of the road!! And in the ’80s these were imported into USA and brought into DOT/EPA compliance by Dave Holland and the boys at Europa International in Santa Fe! Eventually MB USA bought ’em out and their little old garage and driveway enterprise (that’s how it began) became an official arm of Mercedes-Benz USA!
Europa did it in the 90’s not the 80’s
This one clearly has a repaint and sounds like someone did an engine swap. Interior does not match. Priced to high IMHO.
That’s funny, I was living in Santa Fe 1985 and met Dave Holland as he was just beginning, I’m sure he continued it into the ’90s though.
Many European countries including England drive on the “wrong” side of the road with RHD vehicles.
The number of these imported in the ’80s and then federalized by Europa etc. we’re few and far between and they were not “officially imported” but grey market.
No European countries are left that drive on the left side of the road with RHD cars. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man etc are not European and most of their citizens will forcefully and unmistakably tell you so should you accidentally include these island residents with those of the European continent. However Japan, Australia, New Zealand and assorted African and Caribbean countries still use RHD cars for driving on the left side of the road. I’m always amazed at the ignorance when someone sees my RHD Cobra and exclaims “Wow, European, huh!”
Just to clarify, the Isle of Man is not a country, it’s part of England. At present the UK is part of Europe. It’s leaving the EU but unless you know something to the contrary, it will remain geographically firmly within Europe. Before writing this, I took a random straw poll by asking 6 unrelated people here in London if the UK is in Europe and 100% correctly affirmed this to be true.
As your RHD Cobra isn’t European, am I to presume it’s a Japanese kit car?
By the way, congratulations on having a car with the wheel on the correct side. Before WW1 most cars around the world used this configuration before erroneously adopting LHD. One country you missed off your RHD list is India with almost as many vehicles as the USA.
Please accept the English humour
My Cobra is neither Japanese nor a kit. What most people, especially Americans fail to realize is that the Cobra was a British, not American car, built in England by AC and sent across the water with no engine/transmission to Shelby in California who completed the assembly. And while Shelby may have found them impossible to sell after 1966 and so stopped importing them, AC and then AutoKraft kept building them for years and years. RHD cars were give a COB chassis prefix, LHD cars had a COX prefix. Shelby’s cars famously had the CSX prefix. Perhaps residents of the UK have changed their identity with the Brexit issue but most that I dealt with were emphatic that they were not European but British, Irish, Scottish etc. Does it really matter? Not really, but to classify RHD cars as “European” still reflects ignorance in my opinion. But, prior to WWII, and in many cases for the few years immediately following, most of the high quality European cars were RHD – Bugatti, Talbot-Lago, Delahaye and even most of the early Ferrari and Maserati sports cars. The original Bugatti company never ever built a LHD car and whether Bugatti is French, Italian or German is still debated by some people, although I don’t know how it can be anything but French.
But India is an Asian country…
Automobiles Ettore Bugatti was a manufacturer of high-performance cars, founded in 1909 in the then German city of Molsheim, Alsace by the Italian Ettore Bugatti. Molsheim didn’t become part of France until 1919 after the Germans lost the war. Hence the confusion. The current Bugatti company was acquired from Hispano-Suiza by the German VW Group but still built in Molsheim using many German components. Is it French or German?
We do identify ourselves as English, Scottish or Welsh etc. in the same way that French, Italian or Germans etc. identify themselves as nationals of their country of origin, but we are all Europeans.
For your fellow Americans to identify your RHD Cobra as European is correct and the ignorance is not theirs. If, however they were to assume that all European cars were RHD that would be another matter.
Quote “What most people, especially Americans fail to realize is that the Cobra was a British, not American car, built in England by AC and sent across the water with no engine/transmission to Shelby in California who completed the assembly.”
Does this mean that any company sourcing components abroad can’t expect to be considered the manufacturer of the finished article?
Shelby contracted AC Cars to supply him with rolling chassis and bodies from 1962 until 1967 with CSX/CS numbers. Shelby finished the cars in California with 260cu in then 289cu in and finally 427/428 cu in Ford engines. Advertisements from the time state that the Cobra was designed to meet the requirements of Shelby American Inc.
AC Cars of Thames Ditton then produced their own cars COB/COX 6001-6062 from 1967 to 1969.I think you’ll find that AC never sold a Cobra as the name was owned by Ford and that AC Cars in fact marketed the car as the AC289 which had the 289 engines on the coil sprung 4inch tubular chassis.
Brian Angliss of AutoKraft and later AC Cars having acquired the name from the Hurlock family in 1986 and in partnership with Ford used the Cobra name until 1996. Cars produced in England outside of these years are not Cobras but most people refer to them as such.
Many early car manufactures produced RHD cars as traditionally carriage drivers sat on the right to allow free movement of their whip hand. Many early Maserati and Ferrari sports cars are RHD. I believe this is because in Europe we go around race tracks in a clockwise direction and therefore RHD has an advantage.
Many European countries including England? I presume you mean Scotland,Wales and Ireland. I’m not aware of any others.
Please clarify.
Very few European countries drive on the right hand side. Especially not Germany. Probably a UK import.
If we want to be correct, there are NO countries on the European continent that use RHD cars for driving on the left hand side of the road. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland etc., are not European and most residents of said islands will gladly and sometimes forcefully point that out to you if you say they are! Other left side of the road countries include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, a number of Caribbean countries and quite a few African countries and these are the places that RHD cars are the norm – not Europe.
Really folks? UK, as in England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland along with Ireland are the only European countries who drive “other side”. Sweden DID until 1967when they all got up one morning and switched all the signs and lines etc..
Heck, this is a great price for a G-Wagon! Rugged, dependable and cool! What more could a person want! Look at the price of newer ones I have shocking!
Always wanted one of these
Rust free??? Look at the pictures with the rear door open, down by the strap that restrains the door. If they’ve just had it resprayed, why not sort out the rust first? It also looks as if there is paint on the rubber strips from poor masking. W460’s are known for rust.
Why would you want a RHD vehicle in the US unless you’re a postman?
I think this vehicle would need to be approached with due diligence as the owner may be being a little economical with the actuality.
G Wagon very good vehicles but as with everything be sure of what your getting into. I collect military trucks for my hobby and have a couple Mercedes Unimogs I have always loved these trucks but if you want to experience TRULY expensive parts buy a Mercedes Benz, and then make it into a military vehicle, such as the G Wagon. I wanted headlight protectors for a Unimog, it’s just 8 pieces of heavy wire welded together and it bolts in the existing holes around the headlight. Well the wire protectors were 800.00 for the pair and that did not include the 200.00 mounting kit (8 bolts) I made my own!!!
I have been looking at all the comments about Cobras and which side to drive on! I must say that it’s a interesting conversation, I have all of you beat! I am the single owner of my Cobra that has a original 429 install in it at the factory! Not 427 as most came with! If you doubt very easy to look up! Mine is really a jewel!
Are you refering to the 429 Cobra Jet Mustang or Torina ? If not what is the chassis number of your Cobra, as my searches of the register have bourne no fruit.
Correct me if I’m wrong. Ford first introduced the 429 engine in 1968, a full year after Shelby ceased production of the 427 Cobra in 1967.
Even though marketed as the 427 Cobra, many, if not most of the street cars had the cheaper and less powerful 428 engine.
Civilian models were not introduced until 1991(2). Prior model years were domestic and export military only.
I beg too differ.
Development started in 1972, with a cooperative agreement between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria. Construction commenced on a new production facility in Graz, where the new cross-country vehicle would be assembled nearly entirely by hand in 1975, with production of the “G Model” beginning in Graz in 1979.
This advert is for a 1983 RHD model