Growing up in Southern California in the ’80s and ’90s, one of the most exciting vehicles to spot was a grey-market Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Car dorks have long known about the Geländewagen, Mercedes’ legendary off-roader that was supposed to be replaced by the SUV we now know as the GLS, but that’s a recent thing. Until the Kardashians made them infamous, G-Wagens were a rarity. Almost always two-door, and typically cabriolets, these former military trucks were just so dang cool, especially with a surfboard or two perched diagonally between the rear seat and the roll bar. Today? The G-Class is ubiquitous, at least here in Los Angeles. Think about it like this: 2025 was the best-ever year for the G-Class. But all the new ones are four-door. Want a two-door? These days, you can forget about the grey market. Instead, ring up the fine folks at Expedition Motor Company, also known as EMC, and custom order one of my childhood dream SUVs.
Founded in 2017 by Alex Levin, EMC is based in Frenchtown, New Jersey, and does exactly one thing: frame-off restorations of the military-spec Mercedes-Benz 250 GD Wolf. Each build requires more than 2,300 hours of in-house work, from stripping the body to bare metal and treating it for corrosion to rebuilding the drivetrain, brakes, and suspension. The company produces roughly 24 trucks a year, sourced exclusively from retired NATO and Bundeswehr service vehicles. Powertrain options range from the original OM602 diesel to upgraded, more powerful Mercedes turbodiesels and, as in this China Blue Wolf, the GM LS3 V8.
I was recently able to sample a particularly special EMC truck in Miami, Florida, called the 620 GE Wolf. Finished in the company’s China Blue paint, this rig began life as a ’90s NATO-spec 250 GD. Back when the names of German vehicles were logical, 250 GD meant it had a workaday 2.5-liter five-cylinder diesel that made so little power most people (i.e. Americans) think of them as essentially novelties. Which is why EMC succumbed to near-constant customer demand and stuffed a good ole 430-hp 6.2-liter Chevrolet LS3 crate motor under the Wolf’s hood (hence 620). Doing so changed the D (diesel) to an E (gasoline). They also shoehorned in a GM six-speed automatic. EMC performs all this Frankensteinery at its factory in Poland.
While the experiment might sound unholy, the results are indeed fantastic. Instead of lumbering around like an old army truck, the 620 GE feels modern. Perhaps not as fleet as, say, a current G550, but really not far off. As a glorified beach cruiser (probably the primary use case, let’s be real), EMC’s creation is superb. Aside from having modern, more than adequate power, the up-jumped Wolf feels engineered. Should you want to actually do G-Wagen things with your modded G, the 620 GE Wolf still has a ladder frame and two locking differentials (the military Wolf has two, as opposed to three on the civilian G-Class — like the one you’d buy in, say, Beverly Hills). Even with only front and rear lockers, this truck should go wherever you damn please.
Aside from radically improving the powertrain, EMC allows customers to fully customize the paint, leather, and wood, the latter being slathered around generously including underneath the two optional (but psychographically mandatory) jump seats. How much are we talking? $252,000 is the starting point for the Chevy power. This is by no means cheap but in this case, the totally improved NATO G-Wagen feels worth the money. I’ve driven a former military 250 GD with the gutless five-banger and literally got left in the dust by a Stanley Steamer. Yes, a 100-plus-year-old steam car was quicker. Also, have you checked G-Wagen prices lately? A standard G550 will set you back $155,750 with nary an option. The G63, which outsells the G550 by something like two-to-one, begins life at $198,150. G-Wagens ain’t cheap. In other news, fork found in the kitchen. Now, EMCs with weaker, more diesel engines can be had for as little (zoink) as $185,000. After driving the American horsepower version, I’m thinking a good portion of the customers will opt for the V-8. I’m here to reassure them they’ll be quite happy if they do.
The EMC 620 GE Wolf starts at $252,500. For more information or to commission a build, visit expeditionmotorcompany.com.
