The First AMG G-Wagon Featured an S-Class Front Design and a Slow Performance | Carscoops

      A tennis champion from the 1980s enlisted AMG to modify his 300 GD by adding a sedan front end and Recaro seats.

      22 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      One of the earliest AMG G-wagons is currently featured at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.

      AMG integrated the S-Class front end, upgraded to BBS wheels, and installed Recaro seats.

      The original owner of the 1983 300 GD was Ivan Lendl, a US Open tennis titleholder.

      When navigating through the upscale areas of major US or European cities, it's highly likely that you'll spot a Mercedes-AMG G63. However, the allure of this SUV, combining military style with AMG's prestige, is not a recent phenomenon. AMG has been enhancing G-Class vehicles for over four decades, even prior to its acquisition by Mercedes, with one of these unique early models now showcased in a museum in the United States.

      The 1983 300 GD is included in the Totally Awesome exhibit, which highlights automotive culture from the 1980s and 1990s at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. It is owned by the dedicated Mercedes enthusiasts at Patina Collective in Florida, who fortuitously discovered the G-wagon about four years ago. This vehicle is one of a few SUVs typically purchased by affluent aficionados in the Middle East.

      A G-Wagon Designed for a Grand Slam Champion

      This specific G-Class wasn’t imported from Dubai. It was commissioned by Ivan Lendl, a tennis star from the 1980s, whose name is even included on the VIN plate. In a video shared on Patina Collective’s YouTube channel, Lendl mentions that Mercedes was one of his sponsors during the 1980s, and he encountered the two-door convertible SUV while visiting the company.

      Lendl found the idea appealing but disliked the vehicle's front design. He casually inquired with a Mercedes representative about the possibility of customizing it with the front end of a conventional road car. This led him to AMG, where the 300 GD was outfitted with headlights and a grille from a W116 S-Class sedan, AMG bumpers and body kit, BBS wheels, blue leather Recaro seats, and a tailored paint job.

      Petersen Automotive Museum

      A Unique Vehicle, Even in Its Time

      Lendl used the vehicle for around a decade, taking it along when he relocated to Connecticut. Back then, even a standard G-Wagon was a relatively uncommon sight in the US due to Mercedes not officially importing them, but the AMG modification rendered it truly unique.

      In contrast to today’s AMG G-Wagons, this model emphasized aesthetics over performance. Its 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine remained unaltered by the Affalterbach team, producing just 87 hp (88 PS) and a disappointing 127 lb-ft (172 Nm) of torque, resulting in a sluggish 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of nearly 25 seconds.

      H/t to Classic Driver