Mercedes-Benz G-Class · 1st generation G

W460

The Geländewagen that started it all.

Production
1979–1992
Built
51,688
Body
Wagon, van, cabriolet
Drivetrain
Selectable 4×4
Mercedes-Benz G-Class (W460)

Born from a collaboration with Steyr-Daimler-Puch and a Shah of Iran order that never fully materialized, the W460 Geländewagen defined the boxy, ladder-frame off-roader Mercedes-Benz still builds today.

Launched in 1979 as a no-nonsense military and civilian workhorse — short and long wheelbase, wagon, van and cabriolet, petrol and diesel — it combined three locking differentials with a rigid, angular body that put function ahead of fashion.

Across thirteen years Mercedes-Benz and Puch built 51,688 examples of the 460 chassis before the luxury-oriented W463 and the stripped professional W461 took over the two halves of its mission.

W460 interior
A utilitarian cabin — rubber floors, upright glass, and nothing you could not hose out.

Every model.

42 distinct series across 1979–1992 — short and long wheelbase, wagon, van and cabriolet, petrol and diesel — each identified by its chassis, engine and transmission numbers.

MalliMallivuodetValmistettuAlustaMoottoriVaihteistoYhteensä
240 GD Wagon1979–19911979–1991460.330616.936711.200 · 711.202 · 720.107sisältyy yllä olevaan
240 GD Cabriolet1979–19911979–1991460.310616.936711.200 · 711.202 · 720.107sisältyy yllä olevaan
240 GD LWB Wagon1979–1991—460.331616.936711.200 · 711.202 · 720.107sisältyy yllä olevaan
250 GD Wagon1987–19921987–1992460.337602.930717.436 · 722.394sisältyy yllä olevaan
250 GD Cabriolet1987–19921987–1992460.317602.930717.436 · 722.3942,051
250 GD LWB Wagon1987–19921987–1992460.338602.930717.436 · 722.394sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 GD Wagon1979–19911979–1991460.332617.931711.200 · 711.202 · 717.422 · 720.108sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 GD Cabriolet1979–19911979–1991460.312617.931711.200 · 711.202 · 717.422 · 720.10820,415
300 GD LWB Wagon1979–19911979–1991460.333617.931711.200 · 711.202 · 717.422 · 720.108sisältyy yllä olevaan
200 GE Cabriolet1986–19911986–1991460.216102.964717.420610
200 GE Wagon1986–19911986–1991460.236102.964717.420sisältyy yllä olevaan
200 GE LWB Wagon1986–19911986–1991460.237102.964717.420sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G Cabriolet1979–19851979–1985460.210115.973711.200 · 711.202 · 720.1064,138
230 G Wagon1979–19851979–1985460.230115.973711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G Cabriolet1986–19891986–1989460.210102.944711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G Wagon1986–19891986–1989460.230102.944711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G LWB Wagon1979–19851979–1985460.231115.973711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G LWB Wagon1986–19891986–1989460.231102.944711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE Cabriolet1982–19851982–1985460.218102.981711.202 · 717.420 · 720.1116,884
230 GE Wagon1982–19851982–1985460.238102.981711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE Cabriolet1986–19911986–1991460.218102.987711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE Wagon1986–19911986–1991460.238102.987711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE LWB Wagon1982–19851982–1985460.239102.981711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE LWB Wagon1986–19911986–1991460.239102.987711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
280 GE Wagon1979–19911979–1991460.232110.994711.101 · 711.200 · 717.421 · 720.109sisältyy yllä olevaan
280 GE Cabriolet1979–19911979–1991460.212110.994711.101 · 711.200 · 717.421 · 720.1099,945
280 GE LWB Wagon1979–1991—460.331110.994711.200 · 711.202 · 720.107sisältyy yllä olevaan
240 GD Van1979–19911979–1991460.320616.936711.200 · 711.202 · 720.1077,645
240 GD LWB Van1979–1991—460.321616.936711.200 · 711.202 · 720.107sisältyy yllä olevaan
250 GD LWB Van1987–19921987–1992460.328602.930717.436 · 722.394sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 GD Van1979–19911979–1991460.322617.931711.200 · 711.202 · 717.422 · 720.108sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 GD LWB Van1979–19911979–1991460.323617.931711.200 · 711.202 · 717.422 · 720.108sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G Van1979–19851979–1985460.220115.973711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G Van1986–19891986–1989460.220102.944711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G LWB Van1979–19851979–1985460.221115.973711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 G LWB Van1986–19891986–1989460.221102.944711.200 · 711.202 · 720.106sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE Van1982–19851982–1985460.228102.981711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE Van1986–19911986–1991460.228102.987711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE LWB Van1982–19851982–1985460.229102.981711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
230 GE LWB Van1986–19911986–1991460.229102.987711.202 · 717.420 · 720.111sisältyy yllä olevaan
280 GE Van1979–19911979–1991460.222110.994711.101 · 711.200 · 717.421 · 720.109sisältyy yllä olevaan
280 GE LWB Van1979–1991—460.321110.994711.200 · 711.202 · 720.107sisältyy yllä olevaan

* Julkaistu tuotantoluku kattaa kyseisen mallin kaikki sarjat; lähde ei erittele sitä tarkemmin.

711x 4-speed manual717x 5-speed manual720x 4-speed automatic722x 4-speed automatic
W460 side profile
The short-wheelbase silhouette that set the G-Class template for half a century.

Year by year.

The engines, equipment and special versions that chart the W460 from working vehicle to collectible G.

  1. 1979
    • The W460 debuted with 230 G, 240 GD, 280 GE and 300 GD engines.
    • Five bodies were offered across 2,400 mm and 2,850 mm wheelbases.
    • The part-time four-wheel-drive system used rear-wheel drive in normal operation with an engageable front axle.
  2. 1982
    • The fuel-injected M102-powered 230 GE replaced the carburetted 230 G in Germany.
  3. 1986
    • A closed-loop three-way catalytic converter became optional on the 230 GE.
    • The 2.0-litre 200 GE joined for the Italian market.
    • Export-market 230 G models changed from the M115 to the M102 carburetted engine.
  4. 1987
    • The OM602 five-cylinder 250 GD replaced the OM616 four-cylinder 240 GD in October.
  5. 1989
    • The 300-car 230 GE Classic marked ten years of G production with blue-black metallic paint and burr-walnut cabin trim.
    • The more comfort-oriented W463 debuted in September while the W460 remained available for professional users.
  6. 1992
    • Civilian W460 production ended after almost 52,000 vehicles.
    • The W461 succeeded the W460 in the professional G range.
W460 rear three-quarter view
Spare wheel on the rear door: already a Geländewagen signature in the W460 years.

Petrol and diesel.

Six engine families powered the W460 — carbureted and injected fours, the M110 twin-cam six, and three prechamber diesels. Factory figures from Daimler-Benz Classic data sheets.

M115

Inline-4
  • 115.973 (230 G) 2.3 L · 2,307 cc

    90 PS

    66 kW · 89 hv / 5,000 r/min

    167 N·m

    123 lb·ft / 2,500 r/min

  • 115.973 (high-compression option) 2.3 L · 2,307 cc

    102 PS

    75 kW · 101 hv / 5,250 r/min

    172 N·m

    127 lb·ft / 3,000 r/min

M102

Inline-4
  • 102.964 (200 GE) 2.0 L · 1,997 cc

    118 PS

    87 kW · 117 hv / 5,200 r/min

    178 N·m

    131 lb·ft / 3,500 r/min

  • 102.944 (230 G, carbureted) 2.3 L · 2,299 cc

    109 PS

    80 kW · 107 hv / 5,300 r/min

    174 N·m

    128 lb·ft / 2,000 r/min

  • 102.981 (230 GE) 2.3 L · 2,299 cc

    125 PS

    92 kW · 123 hv / 5,000 r/min

    192 N·m

    142 lb·ft / 4,000 r/min

  • 102.987 (230 GE) 2.3 L · 2,298 cc

    125 PS

    92 kW · 123 hv / 5,000 r/min

    192 N·m

    142 lb·ft / 4,000 r/min

  • 102.987 (catalyst) 2.3 L · 2,298 cc

    122 PS

    90 kW · 121 hv / 5,100 r/min

    188 N·m

    139 lb·ft / 4,000 r/min

M110

Inline-6
  • 110.994 (280 GE) 2.7 L · 2,746 cc

    156 PS

    115 kW · 154 hv / 5,250 r/min

    226 N·m

    167 lb·ft / 4,250 r/min

OM616

Inline-4 diesel
  • 616.936 (240 GD) 2.4 L · 2,399 cc

    72 PS

    53 kW · 71 hv / 4,400 r/min

    137 N·m

    101 lb·ft / 2,400 r/min

OM602

Inline-5 diesel
  • 602.930 (250 GD) 2.5 L · 2,497 cc

    84 PS

    62 kW · 83 hv / 4,600 r/min

    154 N·m

    114 lb·ft / 2,200 r/min

OM617

Inline-5 diesel
  • 617.931 (300 GD, to 09/1979) 3.0 L · 2,998 cc

    80 PS

    59 kW · 79 hv / 4,000 r/min

    172 N·m

    127 lb·ft / 2,400 r/min

  • 617.931 (300 GD, from 09/1979) 3.0 L · 2,998 cc

    88 PS

    65 kW · 87 hv / 4,400 r/min

    172 N·m

    127 lb·ft / 2,400 r/min