Look at this car: 1985 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

posted on October 20, 2023

Take a break with these pretty pictures

Every few Fridays, we like to bring you moments of zen in the form of some of our favorite motorcars from around the Turo marketplace. Let’s keep the fun going. We like cars, you like cars, so let’s look at some cars.

Today’s G-Wagen, or G-Wagon, is a massive fortress of luxury and power, and is a coveted status symbol from Malibu to Dubai. Though it retains the same basic shape, the current, more imperious version is a far cry from the Geländelwagen of old. Paul’s 1985 G-Class comes from the era when the model still retained much of its military truck roots — a simple and functional box with a capable all-wheel-drive drivetrain. Its 2.7L straight-six engine puts out somewhere around 150 horsepower, so it’s not winning any races, but this is one of those cars that excels in smiles per mile.

Paul says his charming little G-Class is all stock, except for the wheels, which are from a 2010 G550. This two-door style wasn’t sold in the US at the time, so it’s a rather rare bird on American roads. “It was brought into the States from Germany in the late ‘90s prior to being 25 years old,” said Paul (special arrangements have to be made to import cars to the US within 25 years of the car’s production). “So, the owner at the time had it federalized and got all the necessary emissions and safety equipment to make it roadworthy in the US, and California specifically.”

If you’re ever near LA, Paul’s classic G-Wagen will give you a ride with both brand cachet and a humble countenance, plus one of the better vanity plates we’ve seen in a while.