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The Unimog turned spades into plowshares with the portal axle as the protagonist

In 1942, Daimler engineers began to study the idea of ​​an extremely versatile vehicle with great capabilities over rough terrain. In this way, what has been known as the Unimog since 1948 was born. One of the longest-lasting and most successful sagas in motorsport, becoming an icon among industrial models thanks to its chassis with flexible capacity, its portal axles and its great torque delivery from low revs. Just some of the features present in the 416. Possibly its most defining variant.

Within the compound of the United Nations in New York is located the sculpture Let's Turn Swords into Plowshares. The work of the Soviet author Yevgueni Vuchétich, this monumental piece represents a good metaphor for the German economic situation after the Second World War. With much of the industrial fabric destroyed, the companies that survived the defeat confirmed that its previous growth had only been possible thanks to a model with war as its end. Situation unleashed by Hitler and his acolytes since the thirties, delivering public money and forced labor to companies like Daimler-Benz or BMW.

In this way, the economy of the Third Reich grew thanks to state financing for a war economy. An end that is not sustainable over time, even less so when the victory of the Allies put the horrors and inefficiencies of the Nazi regime on the table. Thus, if German industry wanted to survive, it had to turn swords into plowshares, making a clean slate of the past. Convinced of it, BMW even made pots and kitchen equipment. Much more prosaic occupation than the one chosen by Mercedes, which she applied to the sports car racing inventions previously designed for military aviation such as direct injection.

However, as in any post-war country, the most necessary thing was to renew the industrial mobile park. Situation in which the Universal Motor Gërat, Unimog light trucks were born. Conceived in 1942 by Daimler-Benz engineers motivated by the plan to produce a vehicle with all-wheel drive, wide angle of attack, load capacity and extreme versatility of uses. Very useful features for a military vehicle. Although put here at the service of agricultural development when the project was resumed in 1945 under the supervision of the Allies. In fact, since its definitive presentation in 1948, its hybrid nature between tractor, off-road vehicle and truck has not ceased to be highlighted.

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UNIMOG, A SAGA WITH MANY VARIANTS

When you think of great motoring sagas, the most recurrent thing is to pronounce terms like Golf, Corvette, 911 or Mustang. However, all of these models had their beginnings years later than the Unimog. In addition, although this is an industrial vehicle and therefore less attractive to the general public than a radiant sports car, its design is extremely clever. Proof of this is that many of its versions were marketed almost unchanged for decades. Serving in all kinds of public administrations and industrial uses.

A wide range of services that has been possible thanks to its versatility. And it is that the Unimog is especially effective on uneven floors. A terrain where it moves with great ease thanks to its wide degrees of inclination, long-distance suspension and portal axles. system with which the height is raised with respect to the ground, making the bearings not go to the height of the center of the rim but to a higher one. Saving this situation, a gearbox with gears arranged vertically to transmit the force from the axle shafts -connected to the differential- to the wheel axle itself.

An ingenious system used in very few vehicles, the main disadvantage of which is only to dangerously raise the center of gravity. Despite this, however, the versatility of the Unimog allows you to defend yourself on asphalt journeys. Being able to mark without problems averages of 80 – 90 kilometers per hour. In fact even more. Although his registration as a light truck does not allow him to legally exceed this figure.

Thus, the Unimog has great adaptation to different terrains without sacrificing load capacity or a certain speed. Reason for which it has registered a large number of variants and adaptations. Being still today a benchmark for rescue services, firefighters, farms or adventure vehicles. In fact, its range continues to be updated and selling displaying the same elements as in its beginnings. With special emphasis on the chassis and its high torque capacity.

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416, POSSIBLY THE MOST DEFINING VERSION

In areas such as sports driving, a rigid chassis is essential. Even in cars and day to day. Being especially unpleasant -and dangerous- driving a car that you feel move like a custard before any force or inertia that it suffers. However, in the case of slow use on uneven terrain, this can be an advantage in order to overcome obstacles. In fact, in the case of the Unimog it is one of its main qualities. presenting a really flexible chassis thanks to the use of pivoting connections between the frame and various body elements.

If we add to this the enormous travel of its portal axle suspensions, it is almost impossible to see a Unimog in the compromising situation of not having an angle to support a wheel. In addition, adding points regarding his capabilities off the asphalt is the great torque of its engines. Perfect to handle with guarantees on very low speed trails but with a high need for force.

In this sense, the lack of a reducer in the gearbox is striking. Condition that is leveled thanks to the wide developments offered by the first two gears. Something always commented on in any vintage test with the Unimog 416 as the protagonist. Released in the sixties to possibly be the most canonical version of the entire saga thanks to its extreme versatility and hardness.

Equipped with a six-cylinder in-line engine capable of delivering 85 hp -up to 100 in the latest versions-, its meager power is compensated by a maximum torque delivery at just 1.700 rpm thanks to its 5,7-litre displacement. The right propeller to move perfectly on difficult terrain, For this reason, the Unimog 416 is one of the favorite vehicles of the armies. Base for not a few armored vehicles, and even for units copied by guerrilla organizations such as the PLO in the workshops of their refugee camps. A closing the circle that reminds us of the warlike beginnings of the Unimog during the Second World War.

Images: Daimler/Mecum (auction offered on March 18, 2021)

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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