This Alcove-Built G-Wag Convertible Looks Like a Million Dollars and Sold for Just $72,800

Coinciding with the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami this weekend and taking advantage of the fact that there would be a bunch of rich car people in town, Bonhams held a luxury car auction. The results weren’t greatbut one party in particular was truly unique, and managed to find a new home. The only 1996 Heuliez Intruder Convertible crossed the border and went for a pretty reasonable $72,800. At first glance it may seem so a lifted SL-Class or something like that, but you might be surprised to hear that it is a totally unique body on a G-Wagen chassis.

Underneath this wild looking skin is a normie-spec G320. It has an M104 twin-cam inline-six engine, known for its tireless bullet resistance. The Intruder also features the G’s automatic transmission, transfer case, solid front and rear axles, triple locking differentials and a ground clearance of thirty centimeters. Some minor suspension adjustments were made over the period to account for the car’s weight difference compared to a standard G, but otherwise it should be able to go anywhere off-road a G can go. Which means: everywhere, man.

This car was so far ahead that it must have looked like it came straight out of space in 1996. The LED exterior lighting was way ahead of trends, and the Marc Deschamps-designed carbon-and-steel bodywork predated many similar models. Mercedes designs. I see some SLS AMG in the rear haunches. It may not be the prettiest car in the world, but it’s pretty sleek considering it’s based on a car with a brick design.

Louis Heuliez Carrosserie is located in France, because of course it is. The bright blue leather interior should have been the dead giveaway. There is no other country in the world capable of this level of strangeness. Well, maybe Japan.

Reportedly, this car was recently treated to a complete frame-off restoration, netting the seller $300,000. Selling for less than a third of that is unlikely to be a positive outcome for the seller. Honestly, the buyer got a great car for not that much money. Think about that for a moment a regular G320 is going to cost you about $32,000 anyway, why not earn an extra forty thousand to have the only one in the world? Good buy.