The Unimog
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- Last Updated on Friday, 07 January 2011 20:36
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1942 - The first plans for a forward control style vehicle with all-wheel drive are made by Daimler-Benz.
1944 - Announcement of the Morgenthau Plan; Albert Friedrich (former chief engineer of Daimler-Benz's aircraft engine research division) conducts the first studies on an agricultural vehicle with all-wheel drive, self locking differentials, high ground clearance via rigid portal axles, power take offs at the front and rear, a small loading platform, a driver's cab for two people, extremely low speed for working in the fields, and with an on-road capability for up to 50 km/h (30 mph).
1945 - May, establishment of the criteria for building a Unimog.
1945 - August, first contacts with Erhard & Söhne.
1945 - September, first plan by Friedrich.
1945 - December, first sketches by Rößler, contract with Erhard & Söhne in Schwäbisch Gmünd, southern Germany.
1946 - January, Rößler starts work at Erhard & Söhne under Friedrich.
1946 - October, the first chassis is ready for driving and practical testing begins. The name Unimog is coined.
1946 - December, the body is ready, first demonstrations.
Seven months later the first prototype, equipped with a 4-cylinder, 1.7 litre petrol engine was complete under the Boeringer name, as Mercedes- Benz was not involved at this stage.
Still lacking in 1946 was a good quality diesel engine and the name for this new vehicle, which was neither a truck nor a tractor. The name problem was soon solved by Hans Zabel, an engineer with the firm. He created an acronym from the name: UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät (universal-power-unit) or UNIMOG.
The first UNIMOG saw intensive testing in 1947 and the results confirmed the concept. In 1948 a diesel engine became available, the 25 hp Daimler-Benz OM 636, which was also used in their 170D car. In the autumn of 1948 production moved to the Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Boehringer factory which became the new manufacturing plant for UNIMOG.
In the following two years about 600 UNIMOGs (U 25 model) were produced. These UNIMOGs carried a distinct bulls head as an emblem. In 1951 Daimler-Benz started showing interest and the UNIMOG plant moved again to Gaggenau in southern Germany. In May 1953 UNIMOG received the famous Mercedes-Benz star, replacing the origional Bull Head with a ring through the nose Boeringer badge.
The first U 25 UNIMOG (wheel base 1720 mm (67 inches)) was already successful as an agricultural, forestry and general road works machine. It operated at speeds of between 0.5 km/h (0.03 mph) in the lowest gear (special slow gear lower than 1st) up to 52 km/h (32 mph) in high gear (6th). It had an empty weight of 1780 kg (3924 lbs.) and a maximum loaded capacity of 3150 kg (6944 lbs.)
Not only were farmers and forestry workers fans of the UNIMOG, but the French occupation forces in south-western Germany ordered the first military UNIMOGs. In 1950-51 they purchased 400 of the model U 25.
The U 25s designation changed in 1953 to the U 401/402, depending on whether it was a short or long wheel base model. In 1956 the last 25 hp UNIMOG was delivered. (A very collectable in this range is the 401 "Frog Eye" a small Unimog with a hard top and buldging headlights).
Total production of these models numbered 16,250. It was followed by a similar looking model the U 411, available in 1720 mm (67 inches) wheel base and, from 1958, also in a 2120 mm (83.5 inches) wheel base. The U 411 was initially supplied with a 30 hp engine which was increased to 32 hp in 1959. From 1966 until the end of the U 411s production in 1974 they had a 34 hp diesel engine. In all, a total of 39,000 U 411 vehicles were made, some with a soft top and others with a steel cab. The German Bundeswehr also ordered some of them for use in their Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops) units.
Each model showed improvement, adjustments or additions on the previous one. The same models even show slight differences such as the placement of instruments and mirror types. The eventual 411 range produced was from a 411.110 to a 411.120 with distinct feature differences ranging from open to closed cabs, engine size and wheel base length.
The first U 411 UNIMOG’s were predominantly marketed to the farming community of South Africa. Their versatility and adaptability as workhorses in the tractor range made them quite attractive. The South African Military never used these early UNIMOG’s, although there is photographic proof available that shows the usage of the U 411 by the Portuguese Military in both Angola and Mozambique. These were purpose build for the Portuguese under the model U411.115. The South African Military used Unimog 404 and 416 versions. These had a round cab and is much bigger than the earlier versions. The Buffel is based on a 416 chassis and drive train.
Vehicle pictures, further info and links wanted
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