G-Wagen – 1979 - present

Originally produced as a military vehicle, a civilian version of the Daimler-Benz and Styer-Daimler-Puch developed all-wheel drive G-Wagen, or GeländWagen, was introduced in 1979. The following year the Vatican took delivery of a specially modified G-Wagen featuring a unique clear plastic ‘Bubble’ top, a vehicle that was quickly dubbed the ‘Popemobile’. The body on frame constructed G-Wagen was built at the Styer factory in Graz in austria and was initially available with a choice of either a 2.3 or 2.8 litre petrol engine, with 2.4 or 3.0 litre diesel options becoming available from 1988.

Three different sized wheelbases were offered along with a pick up version and the G-Wagen was one of only a few civilian four-by-fours that utilised three fully locking differentials. a major refresh in 1981 included the option of auto-transmission, air-conditioning and a multitude of driver coforts and although a special V8 powered G500 version was introduced in 1999, the boxy and very expensive G-Wagen never really sold in sufficient numbers in the uK to worry the management at Solihull, the traditional home of the range rover.