Right after the Second World War, German engineer Albert Friedrich started with the development of a multi-purpose vehicle for farmers. What he had in mind was a hybrid between a capable farm tractor, a family car and a small truck. His work resulted in an absolute and undisputed off-road legend, the Universal-Motor-Gerät (a Gerät is a device, a machine, an apparatus).
Just a few early prototypes, equipped with a Mercedes-Benz gasoline engine, were built by Erhard und Söhne. The production of later prototypes continued at the Gebr. Boehringer GmbH, yet these were powered by a Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. In the late forties, the Boehringer company started the series production of the Unimog 70200. Boehringer built exactly 600 of them.
It was not until late 1950 that the Unimog became a full Daimler-Benz operation. Mass-production started in June 1951 at the Gaggenau plant, the birthplace of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog.
Unimogs feature a ladder frame, portal axles, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and four equally sized tires. The 406-series, as seen here, was introduced in 1963 and was built till 1989. Two PTOs were standard equipment, one at the front and one at the rear, working independently of each other. Disc brakes became standard in 1973.
This late-eighties U84 model variant (offered from 1971 to 1989) is clearly a hobby vehicle in an immaculate, restored condition. Something that doesn’t bother me at all, thanks to such dedicated owners we can enjoy a fine piece of classic, pure work-equipment for many years to come.
It’s powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM 352 engine. A direct injected, naturally aspirated inline-six diesel with a displacement of 5,675 cc. The maximum power output is 84 DIN-hp @ 2,550 rpm.
Splendid, a three-way dump bed. No need to dump anything? Then you can just use it as a flatbed truck with dropsides.
The Unimog is so highly capable and so highly versatile that agriculture became merely one of its many target markets. Forestry, fire departments and other municipal services, the military, geotechnical investigation, construction and the oil industry. You name it, the Mog turned out to be a handy tool for any professional off-roader.
Here’s an Italian video, featuring a 1979 Unimog 406. There are word balloons in English, explaining things. Enjoy the ride and the scenery.
Also frequently used as a Road-Rail vehicle, especially for maintenance and engineering work these days.
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Real Unimogs have been offered on and off in the US, as utility vehicles, including rail car-wheeled versions for track maintenance. But I think they really entered the consciousness of young Americans through the offerings of Dinky, Matchbox and even Hot Wheels, whose diecast miniature ‘Mogs probably sold here in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. I see more now here are that are what you call “hobby vehicles” than working. I even … briefly, very briefly … stopped to check out a smaller Unimog that was for sale by the side of the road in California, fitted with a plow or blower. The price was quite reasonable ($5K?) but then I came to my senses; another automotive decision that might have been different if Bay Area real estate prices allowed affordable storage room for a fleet of vehicles.
Thank you Johannes for sharing this wonderful Unimog. What a great way to properly start the day to open CC and admire this brute. Do you have any other Unimog stories you can share with us on CC?
Other Unimog stories to share? No. Not yet, that is.
In general: old Unimogs are quite common around here, as farmers’ kids often use them as a combination of a daily driver and a hobby vehicle. Yes, they drive them to school. Registered as an agricultural vehicle.
More recent and new Unimogs are used in many branches but farming. Expensive machinery. High quality though, with a low depreciation. Just like a Benz G-Class, to name another MB on/off-roader.
I sooo want one!
Twice, over about 20 years, I’ve seen these in western Canada – once in the Alberta Rockies, and once near Tofino, BC. Both were fitted with very tidy (and tall) camper bodies. And both had German plates.
And then, just last night, I find one parked in a driveway, about 5 blocks from my house.
The CC effect, again…
Nice one Johannes, I wonder if 3-way tippers like this inspired Ford to develop the Magic Doorgate on their 1965 wagons?
Former F1 driver Larry Perkins has a couple of Unimogs, and because the new model dropped the auxiliary overdrive option, so he designed one and it is sold with M-B’s approval.
Also the Unimog is remarkably similar to the Caldwell Vale truck/tractors built before WW1. 4wd and 4 wheel power steering, the largest engine was a 4 cylinder 11L with 80 HP.
That’s a massive Motor Gerät for sure! Never heard of it before, I just learned a little bit more through the Wikipedia-site.
Great off road trucks the New Zealand army when we had one replaced its fleet of 4WD RL Bedfords and Landrovers with Unimogs in the 70s, replaced since but they saw long service.
I still have my original Matchbox Uni. Loved that thing from day 1. Reading this just makes me want to get it out.
In 1918 the US army developed the Militor, a three to five ton (there’s some disagreement about the weight) four wheel drive tractor. It was developed at a cost of 40,000 dollars. It was used to haul heavy munitions and it could free heavily loaded trucks out of mud holes, pull vehicles back onto road, and drag disabled vehicles through almost impassible conditions. It was most famously used by the Army in 1919 trans Continental survey to establish the route of the Lincoln Highway. This endeavor was commanded by none other than Dwight D. Eisenhower, at the time a young lieutenant. There is a great book by Pete Davis entitled “American Road” that chronicles the adventure. Here’s photo of the Militor in action.
Nice, I’ll have to read more about that.
The load rating might be as simple as 5 ton on road and 3 ton across country.
Cohort Effect…
Saw one today in Schwabing quarter of Munich.
Unimog cabrio, no less!
Beautiful Unimog and a great write-up, Johannes. I wonder if Albert Friedrich was in any way inspired by Ferdinand Porsche’s Radschlepper Ost (Wheeled tractor East), which saw limited production by Skoda – and even more limited use – in WWII?
What an intriguing beast, thanks for that!
A completely irresistable machine. I can’t think of another completely utilitarian contraption that has allure like this. They look like such a comfortable way of doing mundane heavy n’ dirty jobs, somehow looking uniquely expensive and smooth. The Australian army has a heap of them still, and they love them.
Low gear is certainly that, no? In the video, 80mph max. That’s METRES per hour, ofcourse, less than a quarter mile an hour!
Yep, 80 meters (as in 87.5 yd) per hour. That’s a crawler gear alright…