Ivan Lendl’s Custom AMG G-Wagon: Tennis Legend’s 1983 Mercedes Marvel on Display at Petersen Museum

The gleaming blue paint catches your eye first. Then the incongruous S-Class sedan front grafted onto a rugged G-Wagon body. This isn’t just another celebrity car—it’s one of the world’s first AMG-modified Mercedes G-Wagons, personally commissioned by tennis legend Ivan Lendl in 1983, now drawing crowds at Los Angeles’ Petersen Automotive Museum.

The Birth of a Custom Icon
When eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl encountered Mercedes’ utilitarian G-Wagon during a 1983 sponsorship visit, he appreciated its ruggedness but despised its boxy front end. “I asked if they could put a normal car front on it,” Lendl recalls in a Patina Collective documentary. That casual request sparked a collaboration with AMG—then still an independent tuner—resulting in automotive alchemy. AMG specialists transplanted the elegant nose of a W116 S-Class sedan onto the 300 GD’s military-derived body, creating what Lendl calls “the first civilized G-Wagon.” The transformation included:

• Bespoke AMG body kits and bumpers
• Signature blue Recaro seats with custom leather upholstery
• Distinctive BBS alloy wheels
• Unique two-tone blue paint scheme

Lendl’s name appears on the VIN plate, confirming his personal involvement in this $120,000 project (equivalent to $380,000 today). He drove the SUV for a decade, shipping it from Europe to Connecticut when he relocated—an extraordinary effort given Mercedes wouldn’t officially sell G-Wagons in America until 2002.

Engineering Quirks and Rarity
Beneath its flashy exterior lies surprising restraint. AMG left the 300 GD’s 3.0-liter diesel engine untouched—producing just 88 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration to 60 mph takes a glacial 25 seconds, proving this build prioritized style over speed. Just 20 similar AMG-modified G-Wagons were created in this era, primarily for Middle Eastern royalty. Petersen Museum curator Leslie Kendall notes, “This vehicle represents a pivotal moment when luxury tuners began reimagining off-road vehicles as status symbols—a trend defining today’s SUV market.”

A Star in “Totally Awesome” Exhibition
Discovered by Florida’s Patina Collective four years ago, Lendl’s G-Wagon anchors the Petersen’s Totally Awesome exhibit celebrating 1980s-90s automotive culture. Museum archives reveal Mercedes kept documentation of the build secret, considering it a “special project.” Unlike modern AMG G63s roaring through Beverly Hills, this predecessor whispers automotive history through details like its original Becker Grand Prix stereo and period-correct Michelin tires. The display contextualizes how AMG’s early custom work—12 years before Mercedes acquired the tuner—paved the way for today’s high-performance SUVs.

Must Know
Why is Ivan Lendl’s G-Wagon significant?
This 1983 Mercedes represents one of AMG’s first G-Class modifications, created when the tuner operated independently. Its S-Class front end integration was revolutionary, blending luxury and off-road aesthetics years before luxury SUVs became mainstream. Tennis history intertwines with automotive innovation through Lendl’s direct involvement.

What modifications did AMG perform?
Beyond the iconic S-Class front transplant, AMG added custom bodywork, performance suspension, BBS wheels, and Recaro seats with blue leather upholstery. Surprisingly, the 88-horsepower diesel engine remained stock—prioritizing visual drama over speed in this pre-merger collaboration.

Where can I see this AMG G-Wagon?
Lendl’s custom Mercedes is displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles as part of their Totally Awesome: Cars of the 80s and 90s exhibition, running through 2025. Museum archives include never-before-seen correspondence between AMG and Mercedes engineers about the build.

How many similar AMG G-Wagons exist?
Fewer than 20 AMG-modified G-Wagons were produced in the early 1980s, with most delivered to Middle Eastern clients. Lendl’s is the only known example featuring the S-Class front end conversion and the sole survivor documented with celebrity provenance.

Why wasn’t the engine upgraded?
In 1983, AMG specialized in visual enhancements and handling improvements rather than engine modifications for diesel vehicles. The tuner focused on the G-Wagon’s aesthetics and road manners, leaving the durable but slow OM617 diesel engine—renowned for reliability—untouched.

How was this rare Mercedes discovered?
Florida’s Patina Collective found the G-Wagon in 2020 while researching European-market classics. Lendl’s ownership was verified through Mercedes build sheets and the VIN plate bearing his name—a practice reserved for Mercedes’ highest-profile clients during that era.

This tennis champion’s collaboration with AMG created not just a custom vehicle, but a pivotal artifact in luxury SUV evolution. Lendl’s vision transformed a military-derived workhorse into rolling sculpture—proving that sometimes, the most revolutionary ideas begin with a simple request: “Can you make it look less ugly?” See this slice of automotive history at the Petersen Museum before 2025, where it stands as a testament to personalized luxury in the digital age. Plan your visit at Petersen.org today.