This 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300GD Wolf is a former German military Gelandewagen that was the subject of a 2-year, body-off restoration in Germany by G-Wagen specialist Offroad World. The level of craftsmanship is exceptional and the photo-documentation of the build is as comprehensive as we’ve seen. The original engine has been replaced with a 2.5L turbo-diesel for more power and the interior has been upgraded to leather. The seller says no other G-Wagen has been restored to this level and that it is essentially a new truck. An exhaustive 50+ page build thread detailing the restoration with hundreds of photos can be seen here on ClubGWagen.com.

The exterior looks pristine, reflecting the quality of the restoration, and the custom Jagermeister Orange paint with black trim and soft top sets this Mercedes apart from the stock versions circling Beverly Hills. The car was completely disassembled and the body given a professional paint job while the drivetrain was being put together. Old camoflauge paint can be seen in the ‘before’ shot below and attests to the truck’s history.

Extensive bodywork was performed with a lot of custom fabrication and all rust was professionally repaired. The shell was restored to better than new condition with upgrades like sealed corners, and many before and after photos can be seen below and in the build thread above. Wheel arch flares were test mounted for perfect fit before paint, and the underbody and suspension were powder coated black.

G-Wagens feature body-on-frame construction and locking differentials. Development of the G-Wagen dates to 1972, though production didn’t begin until 1979. Still made today, these SUVs have one of the longest production runs of any Mercedes model.

Build photos show the impressive amount of work that went into the chassis as it was fully overhauled and received new suspension components. All parts used in the restoration were either new or refurbished. The locking differentials and extremely low 1st gear reportedly make this vehicle nearly unstoppable off road. “It climbs anything,” the seller says.

The interior, like the rest of the vehicle, looks practically new with a spotless dash and clean controls/gauges. The seats were redone with retrofitted custom factory W463 leather. For 1985, a tachometer and central locking were added as standard features.



The seller wanted freeway-speed capability so the original NA 2.5-liter diesel engine — good for about 50 mph and with a 4-speed manual — was yanked and replaced with a 2.5 turbo-diesel from a same-year E-class sedan backed with a 5-speed. The seller says the combo resulted in a G-Wagen with abundant torque that’s able to handle 70-mph highway speeds without any problem.

It is difficult to do this vehicle or the effort involved in the build any justice without this listing being 20+ pages long. Please make sure to visit the build link and the full Flickr gallery.