1926 MERCEDES BENZ G1 (W103) 3.1

Vehicle Overview

After WWI, Germany was denied to develop military vehicles, but some researches could still be made, and such was the situation with the Mercedes-Benz G1.

At the beginning of the ’20s, there was a high demand for trucks of all sizes. Mercedes-Benz started researching for a new vehicle, able to cope with off-road and uneven terrain. It was the first step toward a vehicle that was suitable for the trucking companies and the army as well.

There were allegedly seven Mercedes-Benz G1 vehicle built by the German carmaker. It was more of a study to find out if that kind of vehicle would be suitable for off-road use. In the ’20s, the Autobahn network didn’t exist yet and most of Germany’s roads were unpaved. The vehicle featured a high ground clearance, two axles in the rear equipped with twin wheels. It was a very good base for a truck.

The prototypes were designed to carry up to six passengers, although the twin rear-wheels might suggest the ability to carry heavier bodyworks (i.e. armored). It was used in some military exercises. Soon after, the concept vehicles were taken back and the carmaker started a new development, for a better vehicle, the G4. The G1 never went into production.

It featured a simple layout with an inline-six engine that offered just 50 hp. Its on-road performance was limited due to the tires performance.