There’s Actually a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen Pickup Truck, but It’s Crazy Rare
The G-Wagen is a rare SUV that is one of the finest luxury SUVs while still being one of the toughest off-roaders. While this may feel (and actually be) stupid, this cross-section is what you get when a luxury automaker like Mercedes-Benz makes an all-terrain vehicle for the military. Now, imagine what a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen pickup truck would be like. Well, you don’t have to imagine. Mercedes made a G-Wagen pickup known as the W461, but only nine ever made it to the United States.
The G-Wagen wasn’t always fancy
The Germans have been making the G-Wagen since 1979. For most of the model’s existence, it was a rough-and-tumble military SUV. The W461 variant of the G Wagon was introduced in 1992 with an updated chassis and a revised front end. According to Silodrome, the W461 was developed for military and industrial use, while the W463 model was produced alongside it as a civilian model.
The current G-Class Mercedes is an eye-wateringly expensive SUV that shares almost nothing with the early versions except for its iconic boxy design.
Is there a G-Wagen pickup truck?
In the late 80s, Mercedes knew the G-Wagen was getting a bit stale. On top of that, it was clear that there was a demand for two versions of the military off-roader. Mercedes knew that there needed to be one version for military and industrial use and one for civilian use. In 1989, the W463 debuted and, in a matter of years, would become one of the most desirable luxury SUVs in the world. Then in 1992, the W461 hit the field.
The G-Wagen pickup truck replaced the W460, which looked similar but had a far more primitive chassis. The new version also upgraded the powerplant and interior.
As mentioned on Silodrome, the newly upgraded G-Wagen pickup proved popular with military buyers in Europe and around the world; it was also used in other work roles like rural firefighting, search and rescue, oil exploration, forestry, and as national park ranger patrol vehicles.
How much does a G-Wagen pickup truck cost?
Silodrome found a particularly nice and extremely rare W461 for sale. This particular one is special because it is only one of nine that was imported to the States. This W461 is also in the rarer G-Wagen pickup truck version and only has 35,000 original miles.
Its 2.9-liter Mercedes turbodiesel engine benefited from the truck’s complete restoration. It sports a 5-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The restorer chose to give it a fresh coat of military-green paint. It also features the coolest accessories known to humankind, like a snorkel, a roof rack, a front bash plate, protective headlight grilles, and a rack-mounted roof axe for when things really go sideways.
Due to its insane rarity, pricing is difficult to anticipate. The Mercedes truck hits Mecum today (March 28), and bidding will wrap by April 1. To learn more about the truck or bid, check out the listing here.
