The Vehicle

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class or G-Wagen, short for Geländewagen (or cross-country vehicle), is a four-wheel drive vehicle / sport utility vehicle (SUV) produced by German automaker Mercedes-Benz.
The British Army used a number of these vehicles in Iraq during operation Telic, particularly around the Baghdad and Rustamiyah areas.
 Not forgetting the Pope has one!! Well two actually!

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class or G-Wagen, short for Geländewagen (or cross-country vehicle), is a four-wheel drive vehicle / sport utility vehicle (SUV) produced by German automaker Mercedes-Benz. The Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in Iran, a that-time major Daimler-Benz shareholder, proposed the development of a military vehicle in the early 1970s. A major reason to start development was the need of the German Army for a light military vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz secured military contracts for the vehicle in the late 1970s and offered a civilian version in 1979. Designed to be a durable, reliable, and rugged off-roader, the G-wagen utilizes three fully locking differentials.

The G-Wagen was first offered for sale in 1979 and redesigned in 1990/1991. A new version was expected for 2007, but the new GL-Class will not replace the G-Wagen, and it will continue to be hand-built in Graz, Austria at an annual production of 4,000 to 6,000 units.

W460
 
Production 1979–1991

4-door LWB SUV
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Platform Mercedes-Benz W460
Engine
2.8L I6 Petrol
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase 112.2 in (2850 mm)
The original W460 G-Wagen went on sale for civilian buyers in the model year 1979. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheel base (SWB) of 2400 mm and a long one (LWB) of 2850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A 2-door SWB convertible, a 2-door SWB wagon and a LWB 4-door wagon.
The two wagons were also available as windowless 2-door Van (or 'Kastenwagen' in German).

The W460 was popular with military and off-road enthusiasts, with more than 50,000 built in the first decade.