A $93,000 Restored G-Wagen Can Withstand Being Dropped From a Helicopter
Expedition Motor Company is a New Jersey-based Mercedes-Benz tuner that restores older military-grade G-Wagens from the German military. It turns them into driveable convertibles that can be used for a daily commute.
An Iconic Fixture
The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen is an iconic SUV that is quite popular across the globe. Celebrities such as Matt Kemp and Kylie Jenner have been spotted driving one, depicting how beloved the car has become. At a starting price of about $127,650, the SUV is definitely not cheap. It's a luxurious machine that only a few can afford.
Expedition Motor Company
Expedition Motor Company (EMC) is a Mercedes-Benz tuner that sources vintage G-Wagens from the German military and converts them to drivable convertibles. These cost a lot less than a new model. Each example is then fitted with a bespoke build and sold for about $90,000 or higher.
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1991 250GD Wolf
This 1991 Mercedes-Benz 250GD Wolf model is such an example. According to EMC, this particular model can be dropped from a helicopter. This is thanks to side hooks that allow it to be suspended from the middle of the sky.
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Worked on in Poland
The 1991 250GD Wolf was shipped from Germany together with other vintage G-Wagens. It was then taken to Poland where most of the restoration takes place. EMC shipped the restored version to the U.S. for some final touches before putting it up for sale.
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1,000 Hours
EMC spent about 1,000 hours working on the 250GD Wolf. The transmission, transfer case, and engine were inspected, dismantled, reconstructed, refinished and cleaned. New rotors and brakes were installed together with other pieces. The injection pumps were the only pieces outsourced from Bosch.
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No modernization
The restored G-Wagen retains it's original but restored OM602 diesel engine. According to EMC's founder Alex Levin, he refuses to make any major modifications to the car to modernize it. He has previously declined requests to add power windows and to make the car an automatic. He says that he wants to respect the car for what it is.
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An Inspiring Drive
Levin claims that one of the most surprising things that customers discover in the restored G-Wagens is their ability to drive and handle so well despite their age. You never feel out of control. Those that come expecting the G-Wagen to turn like an old Land Rover Defender are shocked at how easy it is to handle. The steering is responsive and smooth.
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Exterior and Interior
The interior and body were dismantled from the frame during restoration. The exterior was then restricted to metal to make it easy to manage any metal-related issues. The frame and body were then blasted with an anti-corrosive primer. Levin and his team decided to retain most of the original interior components. They chose a brown vinyl upholstery to match the polished and wet-sanded white exterior.
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Better than a Lamborghini
According to Levin, if he drives the G-Wagen through New York, and later gets to drive a Lamborghini, he's more likely to get more comments on the G-Wagen. This is, especially, when the top is off. People will not be simply drawn to it because it's a convertible SUV. They will be drawn to it because it's a convertible Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.
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