Mercedes G-Class Goes Retro With Plaid Seats And ’80s Green Paint

Mercedes revealed on Wednesday plans to put a retro-inspired G-Class into limited production. Dubbed the “Edition Stronger Than the 1980s,” the special G-Wagen evokes styling reminiscent of the original SUV from the Eighties, with vintage colors, black trim, different lighting, and unique badging.

Limited to just 460 units worldwide, the Edition Stronger Than the 1980s borrows much of its design from the retro-inspired G-Class built in 2023 to celebrate 500,000 units built. It has the same Agave Green paint, the same headlight protectors, and the same amber-colored turn signals. 

Retro-Inspired Design

Customers will be able to choose between three different paint colors this time around. In addition to Agave Green, buyers can select Cream or Colorado Beige. The three colors were among the first to be available to G-Class buyers in the Eighties, according to Mercedes.

No matter which color is chosen, every special edition G will come with the front fascia, radiator grille, brush guard, under guard, bumpers, side sills, wheel arches, and mirror caps painted in Night Black Magno, to reflect the original G-Class’s rugged design. Silver 18-inch wheels come standard.

The Edition Stronger Than the 1980s gets historical badging on the hood, the tailgate, and the spare tire cover. The Professional Line Exterior equipment also comes standard, which adds all-terrain tires, mud flaps, and a roof rack with a rear-mounted ladder. 

Inside, buyers will enjoy Dove Grey plaid fabric inserts and a “1 of 460” badge mounted to the center console. The passenger grab handle features the phrase “STRONGER THAN THE 1980s”, while the front door sill panels feature a topography map of Schöckl mountain, the testing grounds in Graz, Austria where the G-Class is built. 

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

Modern Equipment Underneath

The G-Class Edition Stronger Than the 1980s is based on the 2026 Mercedes-Benz G550. That means a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with mild-hybrid tech making 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Power gets to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic and a two-speed transfer case, with three locking differentials. 

Mercedes quotes a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds for the normal G550, though this one might be a tenth or two slower thanks to the additional equipment. Aside from the throwback seat pattern, retro G should be thoroughly modern inside, with screens for the gauge cluster and the infotainment system, complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There’s no pricing available for the Edition Stronger Than the 1980s, though considering its unique upgrades and ultra-limited production, expect it to be a whole lot more expensive than a standard G550. Mercedes says deliveries should begin later this year.

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz