The Mercedes-Benz G before the G-Class
10/19/2019
In 1979 , Mercedes-Benz( together with Puch) presented the G-Class at the Geneva Motor Show. However, there was already a similar vehicle in the Mercedes model range, namely the Type G5 from the W152 series.
The G5 was intended as an off-road vehicle for military and civilian purposes and was to be used by the Wehrmacht. The Type 170 VL, which had been developed with similar aims, had not been successful, but provided the technical basis for the G5.
Equipped with a two-litre four-cylinder engine with 45 hp and an unsynchronized five-speed gearbox, the G5 had three limited slip differentials and all-wheel steering that could be switched off. In contrast to the "modern" G-Class, the wheels were individually suspended, with double wishbones at the front and a swing axle at the rear. The off-road vehicle, which was almost four meters long and 1.68 meters wide, weighed 1860 kg and was also 1.9 meters high, similar to the modern G-Class.
The car was not a success with the military, so it was presented to the civilian public at the Earls Court Show in London in October 1938 in various versions, such as a hunting car or a four-door bucket car for police use. The G5 was not a success on the civilian car market either; just 378 examples were built between 1937 and 1941.
One of these rare vehicles in the "Bergwacht" version with Eugen Rupfin bodywork and built in 1939 can be seen (and purchased) at the Classic Expo in Salzburg until Sunday evening.
However, this is only one of probably over 1000 cars that can be admired at the classic car fair in Salzburg, and it is well worth a visit.
P.S. We have just published a vehicle report on the successor G-Class , which appeared around 30 years later.
