Unimog. He could

In difficult post-war years of Germany the simple and hardy go-anywhere vehicle capable to carry out a wide range of tasks on the cross-country terrain, in the field and towns was necessary. And it was thought up — Unimog. The car turned out so successful that her successors are issued to this day. Let's remember together ten most surprising versions of this outstanding car.

Very first
Original Unimog (the name comes from words of UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät – "the universal motorized device") has been created not by the Mercedes company, and Albert Friedrich – the native of BMW, by the way. The first prototype was ready in 1946, and already in the 47th small-scale production has begun. Cars equipped with 25-strong diesel motors of Daimler.

As to maintain rates of production of the small company was not on forces, Friedrich charged construction of go-anywhere vehicles of the Boehringer company, and Unimog of production of this firm is presented on a photo. But in 1951 the Daimler concern became interested in the car that laid the foundation of absolutely new chapter of the history "Unimoga". Which lasts to this day.

The G-coolest
Unimog used everywhere and in every way: as the agricultural and snow-removing machinery, as military all-terrain vehicles... But all this not strongly matched usual life of Europeans. An attempt to make "civil" Unimog has been made in 1994 when U 90 Funmog has appeared. Eloquently tells circulation about success of this attempt – 12 copies.

Finishing of an exterior the chromeplated details, leather sitting, climate control, phone with hands-free, abrupt rugs – everything in Funmog hinted that it is a worthy alternative to a G-class (especially in passability). But potential clients were frightened off by three things: excessively big dimensions, a lack of seats and too high price (from 140 thousand deutschmarks). I haven't saved even the title "Offroader of the Year 1994" – the project has been winded down.

The most customized
And here the attempt of Brabus tuning studio was more successful – the company has let know at once that it is expensive toy for the elite. First, circulation has been limited. Secondly, Brabus Unimog U 500 Black Edition (and this animal quite so is called) have presented at a motor show in Dubai of 2005. And thirdly, representatives of Brabus have immediately declared that less than for 300 thousand euros such truck can't be bought.

Completions of Brabus have affected the engine, an exterior and salon. the 6,4-liter turbodiesel developed 280 h.p. and 1100 Nanometers, and thanks to the compact chassis, to short svesa and portal bridges the truck had a magnificent geometrical passability. Inside – skin, alcantara, carbon fiber and a front line for that time the COMAND system from Mercedes S-class.

The coziest
Outstanding off-road qualities of Unimog are highly appreciated by creators of mobile houses – on the basis of such car it is possible to construct motorhome on which it isn't terrible to go to a travel and to spend night in the desert. One of the last similar projects is Bimobil EX 435 on U 4023 base which was presented last year.

Portal bridges, blocking of differentials, the lowering row and tyagovity 231-strong turbodiesel allow to clamber surely on dirt, snow and sand – in this house it is possible to meet the finest declines and dawn. The inhabited compartment is fixed on a platform which, in turn, is connected to a frame in six the zadempfirovannykh fastening points so you shouldn't worry about the ware flying on roughnesses.

The most bystry
Paris-Dakar of Unimog as the factory Mercedes team didn't come for start – private traders bought cars for the similar purposes. But Mercedes provided the all-terrain vehicles as cars of support and maintenance – and reliable and unpretentious Unimog coped with this task with a bang, though couldn't brag of high speed.

For this reason in 1982 "Unimog" became the winner of a class of auto trucks in Paris-Dakar – after more bystry (but less reliable) cars of rivals descended, Mercedes U 1700L appeared in leaders.
The safest
It is very difficult to learn in this severe fighter of Unimog U 5000, but it is valid he – instead of a factory body the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company has installed a body-bronekapsulu on the chassis, thereby having created the Dingo 2 armored car (the first Dingo has been constructed on the basis of older Unimoga version). The car took active part during fighting in Afghanistan.

Depending on the version (korotkobazny or long-wheelbase), and also from booking level, the mass of Dingo 2 can vary from 8,8 to 11,9 tons. The car can be equipped with MG3 machine gun with targeting through a periscope. KMW Dingo 2 is taken advantage in army of Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Norway and Iraq.

The most dangerous
One more militaristic Unimog, to which a finger in a mouth not of luggage. French have equipped the stretched Unimog U 2450L chassis with a 155-millimeter howitzer of TR F1 and called this killing miracle of CAESAR. Now such cars are in the service of armed forces of France and Saudi Arabia.

CAESAR is capable to make to six shots a minute, at the same time the range of fire reaches 42 kilometers. The maximum speed of such car makes 80 km/h. As well as it is necessary Unimog-at, during service the car has proved very reliable. I was involved in military operations in Afghanistan.

The most hardly recognizable
Tractor. Yes, it is the tractor, and developed by the Mercedes company! Is issued since 1973 to this day. At first – under the name of MB trac (up to 1991), then – WF Trac. Renaming has been connected with integration into the project of the new companies and the biggest contribution to him Werner Forst-und Industrietechnik has introduced.

At the heart of the tractor – the chassis which hasn't undergone special changes and engines from Unimog. Only the cabin of the driver is displaced more deeply in base. Emergence of the similar car didn't become a revelation – after all Unimog and was created first of all for agricultural needs. Under the name of MB trac about 41 thousand tractors have been produced.

The most railway
Lokomobil Unimog U 400 is very popular in Germany and in EU countries as the range of its application on the railroad is extremely wide: it can be also the shunting locomotive (and to pull along structure weighing up to 1000 tons), and can serve adjacent to rails of the territory for an upclassing or be used as the defectoscope.

What for? It is much cheaper, than to buy the shunting locomotive, it is more economic (less expenditure for fuels and lubricants and repair work) and that is important for Western Europe, more eco-friendly. Lokomobil can cope remotely with the help of the special portable panel that is useful at a structure bringing to bulk mechanisms.

The most futuristic
The concept U 5000 was prepared in honor of the 60 anniversary of the Unimog model under a side panel of the Mercedes-Benz company (in 2011). As well as original Mercedes Unimog of 1951, a concept has completely open body. I formed a basis for it quite to myself serial U 5000.

Any plans for serial release of a concept weren't and couldn't be. As well as Gelenvagen, Unimog is installed on the conveyor already whole eternity. Though his forms change and refreshed, he remains all same what was more than half a century back – simple, passable and reliable.