What's Wrong With This Picture: This Modern Unimog Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

How much do things change in 60 years? Sometimes the best answer to that kind of question is a picture. Here you can see an original Unimog (right), built sometime between the start of production in 1948 and 1951, when Mercedes bought the operation in order to expand it enough to keep up with demand. On the left is a “60th Anniversary” Unimog design concept, celebrating not the actual birth of the Unimog, but its purchase by Mercedes. Needless to say, the contrast between the two is… breathtaking. And if you’re curious about the evolution of this hugely influential vehicle, if you can’t help wondering how it grew from a (relatively) tiny, spartan utility vehicle to a garish, Mercedes-starred behemoth, be sure to check out Bertel’s illustrated history of the Unimog. It makes you wonder what the next 60 years have in store for vehicles like this… [images courtesy: Autobild]


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Stuki Stuki on Oct 06, 2011

    Love the original. That MB quit improving and refining a version of that size, is really sad. Manual tranny, simple engine, soft roof, massive ground clearance, and fast enough for local travel. Even in localities that prefer low taxes to roads.

  • Bryce Bryce on Oct 06, 2011

    AWful and childish so whats the bet theyll build it

  • Fred schumacher Fred schumacher on Oct 06, 2011

    What I found interesting was the old Unimog. It's not much larger than a modern utility ATV, but has more ground clearance and more "utility." Center of gravity looks to be quite low for such high ground clearance, and I like the narrow tires. Wide tires are greatly overrated. This looks to be a very useful vehicle. It even has a three-point tractor hitch. I had a neighbor in North Dakota who used his Unimog as a tractor to do field work. A vehicle this size would have great usefulness: nimble and capable. With modern, small diesel it could be a real work horse. Too bad something like this is no longer available. Looks like a job for Tata to tackle. It would be a hit in ranching country.

  • Ryoku75 Ryoku75 on Oct 09, 2011

    This would work as some kind of toy, but thats it. And the exaggerated Benz snout is laughable. When will concept car designers figure out that designing a Hot Wheels and a real car are totally different things?

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