Mercedes 280 GE No. 142 - The Paris-Dakar adventure in model car
This **Mercedes 280 GE No. 142** faithfully reproduces the vehicle that made history in the 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally. This 1/43 scale model car captures the very essence of the Saharan adventure, with its authentic details and perfectly reproduced period livery.
A true **collector's item**, this reproduction of the 5th edition of the legendary rally bears witness to the golden age of model car 4x4 adventure cars . It is aimed at car enthusiasts and collectors who value historical authenticity.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: Mercedes 280 GE No. 142
- Brand: Mercedes-Benz
- Year: 1983
- Scale: 1/43rd
- Edition: 5th Paris-Dakar Rally
- Protective case included: Yes
The Mercedes 280 GE: A legendary off-roader
Launched in 1979, the **Mercedes-Benz G-Class** revolutionized the world of civilian off-road vehicles. Initially designed for military use in collaboration with Steyr-Daimler-Puch, this model stood out for its exceptional robustness and remarkable off-road capabilities. The 280 GE version, equipped with a 2.8-liter 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 156 horsepower, offers a perfect balance between power and reliability.
Its modular design and ladder-frame construction make it particularly suited to extreme conditions. Three locking differentials, generous ground clearance, and optimized approach angles allow the 280 GE to venture where few vehicles dare.
Quickly adopted by adventurers and rally-raid teams, the **Mercedes G-Class** established itself as an essential benchmark. Its commercial success exceeded expectations, transforming what began as a military utility vehicle into an icon of off-road luxury.
Mercedes-Benz: German excellence since 1886
In the early 1980s, Mercedes-Benz consolidated its reputation as a premium manufacturer by diversifying its range. The arrival of the G-Class marked an important step in the strategy of the star brand, which aimed to conquer the high-end leisure vehicle market without compromising its values of technical excellence.
Heir to a century-old automotive tradition, Mercedes-Benz has cultivated innovation and quality since its inception. From Karl Benz's first automobiles to contemporary Mercedes-Benz model cars , the German brand has continually pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering. This philosophy is naturally reflected in the development of the G-Class, which benefits from all the technological know-how of the Stuttgart-based manufacturer.
The epic of the 1983 Paris-Dakar
The 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally will be remembered as one of the most grueling editions in the history of this legendary event. This fifth edition, spanning over 11,000 kilometers, took competitors from Versailles to Dakar, crossing Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Senegal on particularly difficult tracks.
The **Mercedes 280 GE No. 142** excels in this Saharan adventure, demonstrating the legendary robustness of the G-Class in the face of extreme desert conditions. Temperatures exceeding 50°C during the day, freezing cold at night, blinding sandstorms, and compass navigation are the daily lot of the crews engaged in this daunting journey.
This 1983 edition also marked the rise of **female participation** in the Paris-Dakar, with several all-female crews braving the challenges of the course. The spirit of adventure and self-improvement that characterizes this event is perfectly echoed in the performance of the Mercedes G-Class, a vehicle built for extreme adventure.
Mercedes-Benz's involvement in rally raids has helped forge the legend of the G-Class and demonstrate its exceptional capabilities in the most hostile conditions. This participation in the Paris-Dakar has become a formidable full-scale testing laboratory, enabling the continuous improvement of the performance and reliability of the production vehicle.
Complete your collection of exceptional model cars
This Mercedes 280 GE No. 142 naturally finds its place at the heart of a collection dedicated to Paris-Dakar rally model cars . It harmonizes perfectly with other emblematic models from this golden era of rally-raid, creating a coherent whole that traces the history of this legendary adventure.
**Passionate collectors** will particularly appreciate the complementarity between this Mercedes and the other off-road vehicles in the collection, in particular the model car rally car models and the reproductions of model car racing cars from the same period.
This model car is aimed at both experienced collectors and car enthusiasts wishing to celebrate the golden age of rally-raid. Its reproduction quality and historical authenticity make it an essential element for anyone wishing to build a representative collection of 1980s model cars and bear witness to this heroic era of adventure motoring.
