Here’s a vehicle that I’m glad wears a deceptive license plate. Given it sports a Massachusetts tag, I grew immediately concerned it may actually be within driving distance, both for checking out and to drive as short of a distance home as possible to minimize the likely pain and suffering involved in piloting such a beast. Thankfully, despite what the plate says, this 1989 Unimog 1300 is located a safe distance away from me in California, still wearing the insignia of the fire brigade it formerly did duty for. Find it here on eBay for $32,000 and an interesting offer from the seller.
The seller claims he will be lowering the price $1,000 every seven days until it sells, which seems like a great way for potential buyers to sit on their hands waiting to see how low it will go. Regardless, maybe it will convince someone to jump in before it gets too cheap and they have competition. I could see that sort of mentality being exactly what drives enthusiasts to ending up parking such a rig in their driveway: well, it was so cheap how could I not? That philosophy has gotten me into trouble before, but certainly not with a rig that would occupy half of my driveway.
For a very brief moment, I thought of buying a rig like this. I found a very old former highway department vehicle in a Rhode Island junkyard, known as a Mercedes 1319. It’s a very upright, single-cab pickup, which, as you can imagine, has an extremely limited parts supply. I envisioned getting a bed made for it and using it to drive to swap meets and track-side outings, but the logistics of owning such a large vehicle with limited daily practicality even when running properly scared me off. This 1300 represents an even larger commitment, but at least it comes with heavy-duty 4WD features.
The seller notes there’s a mere 23,000 kilometers on its OM352 diesel engine, paired to an eight-speed automatic and rear PTO. Like fire department or brush fire vehicles that show up in the states at municipal auctions, this overseas rig also shows hilariously low mileage, presenting the next owner with the opportunity to pilot a nearly-new Unimog. Though its size may be make it much more valuable for use in rural locations, there’s little doubt a heavy-duty ‘Mog is also the perfect urban assault vehicle. Would you take a swipe at the current price or wait for a few more discounts?
One of the few vehicles that would probably survive a nuclear blast. Parking shouldn’t be a problem either.
I wanted one of these since I saw one written up in a magazine (Car and Driver?) when I was a kid. I have no idea what I’d do with it, but I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Good thing I can’t afford it.
This is the type of vehicle that every plaid wearing, bearded Grizzly Adam’s wannabe wants to own… me included. I have visions of turning it into a self contained Global Expeditions style, go anywhere truck/camper and leaving civilization in the rear view mirror.
This is a vehicle I do do know a fair bit about. I have a German army U 1300 L Unimog I am also familiar with the 352 ci diesel. Lots of positive things in this truck, the emergency version of these trucks had the overdrive working gears which gave it the ability to cruise at normal traffic speed although they don’t like extended highway driving because of the geared hubs. The truck weighs around 10500 pounds they are comfortable inside and VERY GERMAN in the level of technology that went into them they are easy to work on. The buyer must be aware that if your out with another group of buddies out 4 wheeling and you manage to get stuck, you are on your own because unless there is another Unimog with you nobody else will be even close. I consider my Unimog one of the greatest trucks ever!!
Always a good rugged truck that more than bordered the overkill. I worked on a few for the local ranchers and they couldn’t break them; and if a rancher can’t break a piece of equipment, the equipment has got to be tough. I might add that one sheep rancher had an early version which he managed to roll. It didn’t do much more than ruin the top of the cab. Some mechanical problems with continuously failing head gaskets. I remember the truck sitting in his boneyard but he resisted offers to sell it. But one day it was gone. In its prime, it looked similar to the pic here.
This engine shouldn’t give many problems other than a lack of power; none of them had much power. I’m not fussy about the injection pump the later ones (like this) used; it’s pretty light duty, similar to the ones on MB’s earliest diesels used but I guess MB wouldn’t have used it if it was lacking.
I’ve been shown what these can do in the hands of a skilled driver on Daimler’s German off-road range. Terrifying. They have an even heavier truck designed for delivering emergency supplies in natural disasters that is almost as capable of climbing over any obstacle at wild speeds.
Speedometer goes to 100 kilometers / hour and my assumption is that’s pushing it pretty hard. My guess is that it’s 45-50 miles/hour comfortably. That means it’s perfect for me to take into town on weekends and fetch provisions! Parade use! Water cannon! Great for attacking brush fires and taking entire families to safety during fire, wind, flood. Now I only have to wait 15 weeks for the price to come down.
Seriously, I wonder how it got from France to Massachusetts to California?