280 GE

STORY

Few cars have travelled as far from their origins as the G-Class. It began as a rugged military and utility off-roader, developed jointly by Daimler-Benz and Austria's Steyr-Daimler-Puch and built almost entirely by hand in Graz from 1979. In several markets it was even sold as the Puch G.

For decades the "Geländewagen" was a serious tool, bought by armies, farmers and explorers for its three locking differentials and go-anywhere ladder-frame toughness. Then, improbably, it became a fashion icon, its upright, boxy silhouette and thunk-solid doors turning it into one of the most desirable luxury SUVs on earth, crowned by the absurd, brilliant AMG G 63.

Through it all Mercedes has refused to change the shape. The G-Class is now well past four decades in production, one of the longest runs in the company's history, and it remains defiantly, wonderfully itself.