By THATCAR.co.za
Growing up, the letter G meant a lot of things.
Snoop Dogg certainly didn’t help simplify things, either. 😂
We would say things like, “My G!” — meaning my gangster. “OG” meant original gangster. “E authi, I spoke to G” meant you spoke to God, or you had been to church.
Nothing but a G thang!
And how can we forget the G-Wagon?
You hear “G-Wagon”, and suddenly all other words come to a standstill.
Show some respect!
Even on the highway, you step aside and let the G pass. Ladies go weak at the knees when a guy parks his G-Wagon.
Or at least, that’s what I imagine happens. 😂
But where does this name come from? Why is it called the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon?
Well, that’s why I’m here: to be that G (ThatCar-G.)who tells you a thing or two and educates you.
(Get it? THATCAR-G! I thought it was clever.)
LET’S GO BACK IN TIME
Back in the 1970s, the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, suggested that Mercedes-Benz develop a tough, capable military off-roader.
A go-anywhere vehicle.
I mean, the Jeep was doing it, so why couldn’t Mercedes-Benz?
After all, Mercedes-Benz was already synonymous with engineering excellence.
The company agreed, and the vehicle was developed through a collaboration between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch, with production taking place in Austria.
By 1979, the civilian version was introduced, eventually becoming known as the G-Class, or G-Wagon.
Now, unlike other Mercedes-Benz models, such as the A-Class, C-Class, E-Class and S-Class, the letter G actually means something.
It comes from the German word Geländewagen, meaning “cross-country vehicle”.
How boring!
English can be so boring, honestly.
I mean, compare Geländewagen to cross-country vehicle.
Imagine if Volvo had called its V60 Cross Country the Volvo V60 Geländewagen.
I’d buy one just for the name! 😂
FROM THE MILITARY TO THE STREETS
Remember, the original purpose of the G-Wagon was to serve as a military vehicle.
And guess what?
It still does.
Military versions of the G-Class continue to serve armed forces around the world, with various countries using the platform in different capacities.
But it’s the civilian versions that really made the G-Wagon a cultural icon.
From rugged workhorse to luxury status symbol, the G has managed to do something very few vehicles can: remain recognisable for decades while becoming increasingly desirable.
THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS
Over the years, the G-Wagon has evolved through several generations, but its unmistakable boxy shape has remained.
THE W460 — THE ORIGINAL
The original G-Class arrived in 1979, establishing the foundations of what would become one of Mercedes-Benz’s most recognisable vehicles.
It was built for durability and off-road ability, rather than making a fashion statement outside Sandton City.
Although, let’s be honest, it does that rather well today.
THE W463 — MY FAVOURITE
Introduced in 1990, the W463 brought a more luxurious approach to the G-Class while retaining its serious off-road credentials.
And this is where things get interesting.
The G55 AMG is one of my personal favourites.
That combination of an imposing shape, a luxurious cabin and a powerful AMG engine is something special.
One day, when I have the time, I’ll find one and test it on our channel.
You can find us on YouTube here:
THE W463A — 2018 TO 2024
The W463A brought further refinement and modern technology while keeping the familiar G-Wagon design.
And, of course, AMG gave us another fire-breathing version.
Because what’s the point of having a massive, square luxury SUV if you can’t make it sound like it’s angry at the entire world?
THE W465 — THE CURRENT GENERATION
The current W465-generation G-Class, particularly in AMG G 63 form, is an absolute monster.
Under the bonnet sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, producing approximately 430 kW and 850 Nm of torque in the latest specification.
It literally breathes fire!
You know those dragons you see in movies?
I doubt they have this much power. 😂
Let me put those numbers into perspective.
Take a Golf GTI — you know, the one you all love.
Now imagine taking two of them and combining their power.
You’d still be short of the G 63’s 430 kW.
You’d need to throw in a Polo Vivo for good measure!
Do you now understand just how powerful this thing is?
SO, MY G… I hope you’ve learnt a thing or two.
May G bless you, and may you and your OGs keep it real.
Nothing but a G thang! 🤜🤛
