This Dickie Mercedes Geländewagen is a radio controlled car manufactured by Taiyo (Japan) and released by Dickie Toys of Germany into the European market in 1980. It is a model of the actual 1980 Mercedes Geländewagen 280G otherwise famously known as the G-Wagen.
It was also released in the same year as the 1980 Taiyo Mercedes Jeep within the Japanese market and others worldwide.
Based on the 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280G from the G-Glass or G-Wagen series, the vehicle initially began as a rugged off-roader before transforming into the luxury off-roader as it is known today. The vehicle provided an inline-six petrol engine, a boxy utilitarian design with body-on-frame chassis, proper off-roading capabilities, and a simple practical interior space.
Seeking photos of the original 1980 model depicted on the box art was a challenge, with photos of the later 1982 - 1983 model (seen below) more commonly available. Was the 1980 just a concept that never eventuated, or simply not easy to find a photo of? If you know, I'd like to hear from you.
similar to the Dickie Toys G-Wagen
Features and Performance
For a model released in 1980 the Dickie Geländewagen offered state-of-the-art radio control technology for its time, with the side of the box promising:
- 7 Functions
- 2 Speed Gearbox
- Charging socket
- Forward, Backward, Left, Right, Stop
- Control lamp on vehicle and transmitter
Of course, there is no comparison with even the most basic modern toys, however nobody would buy this with the expectation it was a performance model. It's all about the nostalgia, attention to detail in the model, and the fact it's a model of one of Mercedes most celebrated vehicles that was manufactured around the same time - quite different to a modern remake!
Availability and Collectability
As a 40+ year old model of a highly popular vehicle, you don't find these available very often, with very few records of any being sold in the last few years. It's quite likely the majority of any units which do exist are sitting on the shelves of either dedicated toy collectors, or Mercedes G-Wagen enthusiasts.
Of course, if you do enjoy either early 80s Taiyo models, or have an interest in the original G-Wagen, this model that was manufactured together with Mercedes at the time of the original G-Wagen release is surely a must-have.
