Military G-Wagen Gets a Pacific Blue Makeover for Pebble Beach

Arcade Cars is returning to Monterey Car Week with another nostalgic yet thoroughly modernized creation — this time a one-off Mercedes-Benz Puch 230 GE, purchased from the Swiss military and transformed with a Pacific Blue finish and hand-crafted Palomino leather interior.

The Puch 230 GE was among the earliest G-Class models, never officially offered in the United States. Its origins trace back to an order from the Shah of Iran, who wanted a rugged off-roader capable of handling extreme conditions. Mercedes commissioned Austria’s Puch to build it, later adopting the 4x4 platform that still underpins the G-Class today. Arcade sources its projects from Swiss army surplus, considering them the best-maintained examples available.

The company’s restoration process is uncompromising, beginning with an initial condition assessment, followed by sandblasting and welding, then paint, engine refurbishment, and finally bespoke interior work. The result is a blend of preserved military toughness and a wholly new sense of luxury.

This year’s showcase example comes equipped with a winch, gun racks, side ladders, a front brush guard, and auxiliary lights — seemingly prepared for a forest expedition, though its life will likely be spent cruising along the more polished streets of the city.