Mercedes G-Wagen 460 and 461

  1979 to 1991

Production	1979–1991 (460) 1979–present (461)
Body style	2-door SWB convertible 2-door SWB SUV/Van 2-door LWB Van 4-door LWB SUV
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Platform	Mercedes-Benz 460
Engine	2.0L I4 2.3L I4 2.8L I6 Petrol 2.4L I4 diesel 2.5L I5 diesel 3.0L I5 diesel
Transmission	4-speed manual 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	94.5 in (2,400 mm) or 112.2 in (2,850 mm)

The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase (SWB) of 2,400 mm and a long one (LWB) of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short wheelbase convertible, a two-door SWB wagon and a long wheelbase four-door wagon. The two wagon versions were also available as windowless two-door Vans (or Kastenwagen in German). While always assembled in Graz, the car was sold as the Puch G only in the Austrian, Swiss, and Eastern European markets.

During the G-wagen's life span many a different body style was made for army and public-service clients, like the Popemobile, the pickup or the chassis/cab with a wheelbase of 2,850, 3,120 or 3,400 mm, the chassis/cab being the base vehicle for army-ambulances or communication vehicles. Because of the sheer variety of military versions, this article focuses on the more standardized civilian G-Wagen.

The 460 was popular with military and off-road enthusiasts, with more than 50,000 built in the first decade. Mercedes-Benz initially did not sell the model in the United States, but by means of "casual importation" grey-market in the mid-1980s, importers sold a number of G-Wagens which had been modified to meet the specifications by the US DOT, at about $135,000.

 G-Wagen 461

The 461 is the military model, also produced since 1979. All special ordered and military models use the 461 designation, i.e. vehicles special built for firecorps, police, army, aid corps, etc. Also the later special built, but public available, Worker model got this designation. These have also been marketed as the Professional and Greenline series. Through the years the 461 models have had their engines, gearbox and driveline upgraded as with the 460 and 463 models. The 462 designation was used in models built on licence in other countries(the vehicles of Greek army made by ELBO are 462). The Peugeot P4 had its own designations.

The G280 CDI "Edition Pur" is a special version of the 461, available to civilian buyers. This version is essentially a civilian version of the professional use 461 (incorporating many of the improvements seen on the 463) and comes equipped with a 24V starter motor and a walk-on bonnet.

 460 models

• 200 GE — M102E20 2.0 L I4, 109 PS (80 kW) at 5,200 rpm, (only sold in Italy and a few other markets)
• 230 G — M115 2.3 L I4, 102 hp (75 kW), 127 lb·ft (172 N·m/3,000 rpm)
• 230 GE — M102E23 2.3 L I4, 125 PS (92 kW) at 5,000 rpm, 141 lb·ft (192 N·m/4,000 rpm)
• 280 GE — M110E 2.8 L I6, 156 hp (115 kW), 166 lb·ft (226 N·m/4,250 rpm)
• 240 GD — OM616 2.4 L Diesel I4, 72 PS (53 kW) at 4,400 rpm, 101 lb·ft (137 N·m/2,400 rpm)
• 250 GD — OM602 2.5 L Diesel I5, 84 hp (62 kW), 113 lb·ft (154 N·m/2,800 rpm)
• 300 GD — OM617 3.0 L Diesel I5, 88 PS (65 kW) at 4,400 rpm, 126 lb·ft (172 N·m/2,400 rpm)

 461 models

• 230 GE — M102E23 2.3 L I4, 125 hp (92 kW), 140 lb·ft (192 N·m/4000 rpm)
• 290 GD — OM602D29 2.9 L Diesel I5, 95 hp (71 kW)
• 290 GD TD — OM602DLA29 2.9 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 92 kW (123 hp)

461 Worker/Professional/Greenline

• G 270 CDI — OM612 2.7 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 156 hp (115 kW), 294 lb·ft (400 Nm)
• G 280 CDI — OM642 3.0 L Diesel V6, 183 hp (135 kW), 294 lb·ft (400 Nm) (manufactured in both 4×4 and 6×6)
• G 300 CDI — OM642 3.0 L Diesel V6, 183 hp (135 kW), 294 lb·ft (400 Nm)