Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 300GD M2

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Adored and ignored in equal measure, the G-Wagen is one of those vehicles that seem to polarise opinions. Ugly, boxy and crude to some, it is the finest, most capable and best engineered 4x4 of all time to others.

However the facts speak for themselves: despite having a cripplingly high price tag right from its launch in 1979, the G-Wagen has won such a loyal fan base that it remains in production to this day, making it the longest running model in Mercedes history.

Available with a range of engines from a 2-litre petrol to a 3-litre diesel in both long and short wheelbase formats, its trump card was a set of three fully locking differentials, controlled by a profusion of knobs and levers, that gave it the ability to cross even the worst terrain that Planet Earth could throw at it. To prove the point, Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur won the world’s toughest rally, the Paris-Dakar, in a G-Wagen 280GE in 1983.

Considered essential equipment by the German military and emergency services (not to mention the Russian mafia, who like theirs bullet-proof), it also proved an irresistible security blanket to middle class parents terrified that young Wolfgang might not make it to school on time.

This 300GD 3-litre diesel was bought new from Carols of Wolverhampton in September 1987 and has had just one owner ever since. It was in regular light use until 1999 when the owner fell ill and the car was put into storage where it was to remain until recently. The indicated mileage of 42,600 is said to be genuine although there is no history to warrant this as the owner ran a fleet of vehicles (mainly Mercedes commercials) and all were looked after by an in-house mechanic.

Recently unearthed from storage to prepare it for sale, it has been got running again and partially recommissioned with a rebuilt fuel pump, new fuel filter, fresh battery and a new set of tyres. It will doubtless require a more thorough service before being submitted for MOT and returned to the road. It comes with a useful quantity of spares including a new exhaust, new rear shock absorbers, new brake pads, number plate lights and an oil filter.

Although it has a couple of dings here and there and the leading edge of the bonnet has some corrosion, a ramp inspection shows that it is remarkably sound underneath. The cloth interior is also in good condition and it could be turned into a fine example with relatively little effort.

With such low indicated mileage it is barely run in yet and should have decades of useful life ahead of it. Although, as any G-Wagen fan will tell you, mileage is irrelevant with these tanks and they just keep on keeping on until everything around them has died or fallen to bits and then they just keep on going some more.

Land Rovers may be stealing all the headlines at the moment due to the demise of the Defender, but few would argue that the G-Wagen is a technically superior vehicle in all important respects.