1979 | Steyr-Puch 240 GD (SWB)

This Colorado beige open off-road vehicle with a short wheelbase is the 97th example produced. In addition, only 50 of the first 1000 examples produced were delivered as a Puch. It was delivered in Austria in 1979 and remained there until 2008, until then the Puch only changed hands once.

From 2008, the car was acquired by Dritte Hand, a German G-Class collector based at Lake Constance. To this day, he has regularly used it in a large G-Class collection with other pre-series vehicles. A copy of the first letter, in which the history can be traced, is available.

The key features of this early series can be seen in various details in the interior. The stitching on the seats is stitched vertically four times instead of horizontally once, the handbrake lever is short, hatched long and the frame is primed in a yellow color. Further details can be found in the rear seat area. For example, the seat support is bolted on the standard vehicles, while on this model it is made by hand and welded.

As an open G with a short wheelbase, it is the perfect companion on and off paved roads. As soon as the roof is removed, you can enjoy the sun even in the most remote places. Thanks to the solid and widely used technology, the W460 is very low-maintenance. If, contrary to expectations, something breaks down on the road, a replacement part can be found almost anywhere in the world. It is therefore the perfect vehicle for any explorer, and thanks to its condition it is also worth collecting.

Equipment and special features

• Short wheelbase, open
• Differential lock front & rear
• Power steering
• Trailer coupling
• Driver & front passenger headrests

Documents and documentation

• First Austria titel
• Operating manual
• Original brochure

History of the series

**"There has never been a vehicle like the new Mercedes-Benz SUV." **

The first headline from a sales brochure for the G-Class, which appeared in 1979, gives an idea of how proud Mercedes was of its creation - and rightly so.

In 1972, Daimler-Benz decided to develop an off-road vehicle together with what was then Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG. This was partly due to the influence of Iranian ruler Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who held about 18% of Daimler-Benz AG shares - he needed off-road vehicles for his border patrols and for hunting. Daimler-Benz hoped to sell the vehicles to the German armed forces as well, but failed to do so because of the VW Iltis, which was much cheaper.

The W460 series was launched in 1979 with five bodies in two wheelbases: Station wagons and panel vans were available with short and long wheelbases, the open off-road vehicle only with a short wheelbase. At the start, the paint options cream white, wheat yellow, colorado beige, chimney red and agave green were available, paired with the interior colors black or date brown.

Thanks to the differential locks for the front and rear axles, the G-Class can also be used in difficult terrain. But it also knows how to impress on the road, something that was also given a great deal of attention during development. Thanks to the flexible design of the interior with rear bench seat or the rear seats positioned longitudinally, many variants were possible: in the long wheelbase, the "station wagon" was even possible with up to nine seats.

Another feature of the G-Class was its service-friendly design. For example, mainly existing components from other model series (passenger cars and vans) were used to guarantee worldwide availability and make the work of service personnel easier. All parts are comparatively easy to access, so you can do it yourself if you get stuck in remote areas (which, of course, is extremely rare with the G).

Incidentally, the defeat in the Bundeswehr tender was made up for in the early 1990s with the 250 GD "Wolf", when Mercedes finally prevailed over VW. So it came that the G-Class could adorn itself in the fancy camouflage.

The vehicle is located in our showroom in Stuttgart-Plieningen, close to the airport/trade fair. A test drive and an inspection on the car lift are possible by arrangement.

The sale takes place on request with new inspection, service and TÜV. We also offer a wide range of accessories for your new dream car. If required, we can also deliver the vehicle to you in a closed trailer.

**Opening hours: **Mon - Sat by appointment

Carola Daimler Cars is a company owned by the great-granddaughter of inventor and visionary Gottlieb Daimler. We collect, trade and broker classic cars, youngtimers and collectibles with potential and history. We place particular emphasis on quality, history and preserved charm.

Subject to prior sale and errors for this offer excepted. The vehicle description on the Internet serves only for the general identification of the vehicle and does not represent a warranty in the sense of sales law. Only the agreements in the purchase contract are decisive.

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