Unimog turns 60

[flyjoe180]

Unimog: The ultimate big boys' toy

Even Lego gets in the act as Unimog celebrates its 60th birthday The Mercedes-Benz Unimog has become legendary for its blend of extreme off-road abilities in civilian and military applications.

If it makes a cool toy, it's a cool truck. The iconic Mercedes-Benz Unimog celebrates its 60th birthday this year, which has prompted Lego to create its biggest-ever Technic-series model: a 1:12 scale Unimog made up of 2048 pieces and measuring 386mm.

The Lego Unimog U400 includes full suspension, differentials, a four-wheel-drive chassis, a gear block for extreme ground clearance and a detailed representation of the engine, including moving pistons.

Mercedes-Benz has also created a toy of its own to celebrate: a full-size Unimog concept truck with outrageous lines, an exposed chassis and an open cabin - a nod to the original model of 1951.

The Universal Motor Great (Unimog) has become legendary for its blend of commercial vehicle and extreme off-road abilities - in civilian and military applications. The New Zealand Army has run a large fleet since the 1980s.

More here: www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10770441

[phil]

Dec 5, 2011 14:32:36 GMT 12 flyjoe180 said:

The Universal Motor Great (Unimog)

Gerat... spell check is not always your friend.

[flyjoe180]

Indeed, 'gerat' is German meaning machine or device. What else do we expect, it is the Herald.

[beagle]

It says that the NZ Army has been involved in more than 100 crashes.
I take it a lot were minor and were repaired as we wouldn't have to many left or have we actually lost quite a few.
I remember we originally got 2 sizes but did we get rid of the smaller ones a while back or am I totally wrong here.
What were the original numbers.
Was it more than the numbers of the old Bedford RL we all loved

[ngatimozart]

The old RL found it's way onto many a farm. If you want a real tough truck the Russian GAZ 65 is really tough. About 3 years back I read a story about 2 Kiwi jokers driving one from Mongolia to Cape Town. They added fuel tanks from a Russian tank to it which gave them a range of about 1500km. Never did find out how they did. Anyway same story said that in Moscow one of the Russian TV car shows took too an ex Russian Army GAZ 65 with a crane and a wrecking ball. Beat the hell out of it and then guy got in it and drove it off the site.