I realize this is an old thread, but I came upon this as I was bored and researching my dads old G. I might be able to fill in a few points...
Dad bought his in 1985 when the US dollar was worth $1.34 vs the British pound. Basically the French made G, sold by a Case dealer in England was 1/3 cheaper than a US built version because of the dollar difference. Purchase price included delivery to any US port. Terms were 1/3 down and balance due upon delivery/pickup. Also part of the deal was that upon delivery, if dad didn't like anything about the machine, the dealer, would by check or cash, by the local contact refund the down payment and $250 for his time and trouble.
Dad used his for over 6000 hours with only minor trouble. Overall fit and finish was perfect! No paint runs, no thin spots, doors and panels aligned perfectly. Also all the decals were placed perfectly. Warning stickers were in US and French. In all the years he owned it, we never found a paint run or drip. This could not be said of other, US machines he purchased later, to include an E, a Super E and lastly the 2 590's. The G actually out lasted both E's and was only sold when dad got rid of all his help and after the purchase of the first 590.
As previously stated, it was a Case machine with a David Brown drive line, including a new at the time, heavy rearend that would show up in US machines a year later. When he bought the machine, he also had the dealer include a complete set of manuals. Any part he ever needed was available at Case either in stock or next day... drive line parts, if we needed them sooner, were available over the counter at the local David Brown dealer. All of the filters either were on the shelf at Case or crossed to a Wix number that was available in stock at the local Napa. I suspect the non-stocked filters were David Brown filters...
Dad's machine was a hard loaded digger. It had everything except A/C and dirt pads. The dealer said he could get them, but it would put the machine 3 months out... Dad ended up just buying a set of dirt pads at the local case dealer and of course they were in stock... lol! His had standard, center mount backhoe, (not side shift) 4x4, cab, heat, extendahoe, 4-in-1 front bucket, front drive shaft guard and an interior that was like the best Caddy of the day to include padded wheel wells and a padded rubber floor mat.
The only problem I can remember he really had over the years was a roll pin in the 4x4 shifter. The pin was located inside the drop down transfer case and would break if you slammed the 4x4 shifter down (putting it in 4 wheel drive) hard. The first time it was a PITA to change. However by the second time we realized that David Brown put a nice access hole and you could change the pin in a matter of minutes...
The included picture is when we went to look at the machine in the Houston ship yard in 1985. The machine showed 2/10's of an hour. Not shown in my picture were the nice folding rear tail lights that would fold out for transport. I will see if that picture is still around, I can remember it, just can't fine it...
