Looking to the Past
As is often the case when it comes to vehicles, looking into the past leads us to something cooler than its modern counterpart. In this case, the 1990s G-Wagens made for some of the coolest ambulances in the world. During the ‘90s, the G-Wagen was not purely a Mercedes-Benz creation, and people living in Switzerland, Austria, or Eastern Europe knew it as the alternatively-branded Puch. This ambulance was a Puch because it comes from Switzerland. It belonged to the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection, and Sport.
Under the Hood
This old-school ambulance doesn’t just look the part though, it could perform too. It is an off-road ambulance that uses a five-cylinder diesel engine with locking diffs on either axle. Its rugged nature means it’s the perfect ambulance for a mountain rescue team. Along with the 142lb of torque, there is a spare wheel and air conditioning in both compartments. There’s plenty of room for two stretchers, and a roof rack for real emergencies.
Available to Buy
Miraculously this old ambulance hasn’t done very many miles since its creation in the mid-1990s. It has 2,800 miles on the clock, although many of those miles would have traversed the rocky Swiss Alps. The German car auctioneer Lorinser Classic had this ambulance available for the list price of €79,900 ($90,000).
It’s hard to imagine there has ever been a cooler fleet of ambulances than these G-Wagens found all over Switzerland during the 1990s. The G-Wagen might no longer bring aid to those who need it, but it still remains an important vehicle. Even though you might have been in serious danger, at least you looked awesome on your way to the hospital.