While the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 is the modern icon of six-wheeled Mercedes vehicles, the story stretches back much further. Mercedes-Benz has a history with six-wheel configurations, primarily for specialized and military applications, long before the G63 AMG became a sensation.
One notable example is the Mercedes-Benz W31, also known as the G4. Produced in the 1930s, this three-axle off-road vehicle was designed as a staff car for the German Wehrmacht. These imposing vehicles were seven-seaters, intended for touring and command purposes. Due to their high cost, the Mercedes-Benz W31 G4 was mainly utilized by the upper ranks of the Nazi regime for parades and inspections, rather than general army use. Around 57 of these vehicles were manufactured, and surprisingly, at least three are still preserved in their original condition today, serving as a stark reminder of their historical context.
Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz wasn’t the only manufacturer experimenting with six-wheel drive vehicles during this era and beyond. The British Range Rover also ventured into six-wheel configurations, but with a different approach. Unlike the Mercedes-Benz W31 G4, which had all-wheel drive, early six-wheeled Range Rovers often featured an unpowered third axle, essentially acting as a “lazy” axle. However, Range Rover also developed utility vehicles based on their first-generation models, including six-wheel drive versions.
Carmichaels International created a six-wheel Fire Tender based on the Range Rover, primarily for use on smaller airfields. These were initially two-door models with an extended chassis and a third unpowered axle. The British Ministry of Defence also adopted these for the Royal Air Force, known as the TACR2. Later versions evolved into four-door configurations with internally mounted water pumps and some were even converted to full 6×6 drive, demonstrating the versatility of the Range Rover platform for six-wheeled applications.
While the modern Mercedes-Benz 6 wheeler, the G63 AMG 6×6, is designed for extreme off-road performance and luxury, its historical predecessors and contemporaries like the Range Rover six-wheelers highlight a longer and more diverse history of six-wheeled vehicles from both manufacturers, serving military and utility purposes alongside the later luxury and performance focus.
