Listing snapshot
| Spotted | October 2022 |
| Asking price | Not recorded |
| Location | Markham, Ontario |
| Listed on | Kijiji, private seller |
| Drivetrain | Swapped OM606 3.0-liter turbodiesel, six-speed manual, four-wheel drive |
| Status | Ad expired. This page is our archive of the listing. |
We spotted this 1987 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen on Kijiji in October 2022, listed by its owner in Markham, Ontario. Our old write-up did not record the asking price. The ad has expired, but we keep this record because modified early G-Wagens like this one are interesting to anyone pricing or building one.
What this car was
A dark green, long-wheelbase five-door GD300 with seven seats. In the photos it sits on olive military-style steel wheels and chunky all-terrain tires, with a full-length roof rack. Inside, the seats and door cards were trimmed in tan and brown plaid, and the rear load area was bare and worn.
The big story was under the hood. The original diesel had been replaced with a Mercedes OM606 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel, and the seller listed a long set of supporting work:
- Rebuilt engine with an overhauled head, new injection pump, uprated valve springs and new oil pump
- Holset HX35 turbocharger and 2.5-inch exhaust
- Upgraded engine cooling
- New six-speed manual gearbox, clutch and flywheel
- Fox shocks and new brakes
- Five Hutchinson military wheels with new BFGoodrich tires
- New auxiliary heater
The ad called it a 350-horsepower sleeper. We have no way to check that figure, and it would depend entirely on how the engine was tuned. What the list does show is a lot of money spent on the drivetrain, which matters more to a buyer than any single number.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class price history
Every Mercedes-Benz G-Class we’ve spotted for sale, oldest first. These are asking prices, not sale prices.
| Spotted | Car | Asking price | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2022 | 1987 G-Wagen 300GD (this car) | Not recorded | — |
| Nov 2022 | 1990 G300 | $39,990 | — |
A little G-Wagen history
Mercedes-Benz launched the G-Class in 1979. It was developed with Steyr-Daimler-Puch and built in Graz, Austria, first as a tough off-roader for military and civilian buyers. Early versions like this 300GD used simple diesel engines and part-time four-wheel drive. Mercedes did not sell the G-Class officially in the United States until 2002, so older ones in North America came in through private import.
More cars from the archive
- 1990 Mercedes-Benz G300, another Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL500, another Mercedes-Benz
- 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500, another Mercedes-Benz
- 1985 TVR Tasmin 280i, another 1980s European car
