Australian Car Guide

French Offroad Fair August 1999

The French OffRoad fair (Salon International du 4x4 et des Loisirs) will be held in Val d'Isère, in the French Alps, from the 14th to the 22nd August.

The French Mercedes ORV Owners association will have one of the largest stands, starring: a ML430, a ML320 with seven seats, a G500 Classic as featured in Graz for the 20th jubilee, a G290 DT LWB factory equipped for tough countries with diesel/water separator, a twinset of spare wheels, etc.

A separate stand will show the ORVs of legend: the Jeep MB belonging to Gal Patton, a few winners of the Paris-Dakar rally, a 1934 Citroen "Kegresse" half-track which toured Africa and Asia. We contribute to this fair thanks to Daimler-Chrysler which grants us a G5 (right) built in 1937 (all-wheel drive but also all-steering!), the oldest known G230, chassis number: 000 009, a four soft-doors and roof delivered to the Austrian army and a 1969 Haflinger 700AP.

About the 20th G Jubilee in Graz, July 1999:

About Graz, just a few words. Hundreds of G wagens crowding the external parkplace of Steyr Fahrzeug Teknik. From the ultimate G500 to the 240 GD chassis number No. 79, winner of the special award for the oldest applicant.

Welcome was given by Juergen Achilles, Daimler-Chrysler's Senior Manager, Sales & Marketing, Cross Country Vehicles Division (right).

Exhibition of newies: G58 Brabus, G55 AMG, G500 CLassic. The Classic is featuring a special "changing" paint : black at night and dark purple otherwise, with twin colored nappa seats, sequential gear, etc.

Exhibition of specialities: LWB even longer (in fact they have added the back of a SWB after the second door!), foldable body motorhome, gunned turret on an armoured car, twin-cabin chassis (rather bigger than a neat American full-size) with 17.5 inch rims. Exhibition of oldies: see above.

The grand dinner at the end of the week crowded over 1000 people in the factory canteen.

- Claude [8/1999]

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