If you want the style of a vintage off-road SUV, there are certain sacrifices to be made for practicality and luxury. Well, not if you have enough money to spend on a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen from Expedition Motor Company in New Jersey. EMC exclusively builds G-Wagens, and up until recently, only sold short wheelbase 250GD Wolf models. Now, the Jersey-based restoration company has expanded with a new offering, but it hasn't strayed too far from its Mercedes-Benz roots. It just stretched the boundaries a bit.
EMC LWB G-Wagen rear 3/4
EMC Long Wheelbase G-Wagen
Expedition Motor Company
EMC now offers a Long Wheelbase (LWB) Cabrio G-Wagen, which offers the same great styling and capability with more practicality. Since this G-Wagen is bigger than the Wolf, EMC is giving it bigger engine options with more power. That's right, there will be no sluggish five-cylinder diesel here.
"The introduction of the Long Wheelbase Cabrio allows us to bring that same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail to a larger platform. Now, customers can enjoy everything they already know and love about the EMC Wolf – its authenticity, unique character, and timeless design – while comfortably accommodating more passengers."
– Alex Levin, founder of EMC.
Mercedes Or Corvette Engine
EMC LWB G-Wagen engine
EMC Long Wheelbase G-Wagen
Expedition Motor Company
Buyers who want to keep their build true to the spirit of the original can opt for a 3.0-liter Mercedes OM606a turbocharged diesel inline-six engine. It produces 275 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, which is more than the five-cylinder turbo-diesel we previously sampled in the Wolf G-Wagen. If that doesn't sound extreme enough, EMC will also offer a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from General Motors, producing a whopping 430 hp.
No transmission choices are mentioned, but the company typically lets customers choose between a manual or automatic. Those transmissions are typically original Mercedes boxes when paired with the diesel engines, but are upgraded to newer options for the V8. Both retain the look and feel of the original G-Wagen shifter.
Carry Up To Eight
EMC LWB G-Wagen side
EMC Long Wheelbase G-Wagen
Expedition Motor Company
The LWB Cabrio G-Wagen is a unique vehicle because it can carry up to eight people with an open-roof experience. How many other vehicles can do the same? It has the driver and passenger up front, two front-facing seats behind them, and two (optional) inward-facing bench seats that can each squeeze two passengers for a total of four in the trunk area. Those bench seats also lift out of the way, in case you need to carry more cargo than people.
Everything else about the build is customizable, including the exterior color, bumpers, lighting, wheels, caliper colors, roof type, interior color, wood trim, and more. The LWB starts at $235,000, meaning it's significantly more expensive than one of EMC's Wolf builds ($185,000). Perhaps it's worth it if you need a G-Wagen with more space?