Mercedes-Benz Unimog: Wrong for many, right for some

Mercedes-Benz in a way confirmed that a Unimog was never a farm tractor alternative by launching its MB Trac way back in 1973. Although broadly sharing engine and transmissions with the then current ‘light’ Unimog 406 and 416, the non-suspended rear axle and central cab of the MB Trac proved more suitable for general in-field duties than a fully suspended standard Unimog with its truck style cab.

MB Trac production ceased in 1991, but the Unimog continued to be offered, including ‘AG’ spec models with a factory fit rear threepoint linkage and pto and cleated ‘off road’ tyres finding niche agricultural sales. Offered with a host of options such as a front linkage and pto, plus the option of numerous hydraulic outlets, there were specialists offering demount sprayers, spreader bodies and ‘vegetation’ management systems specifically for the Unimog well into the 2000s.

Mercedes-Benz appeared to lose interest in the agricultural sector with the launch of the Unimog UGN series in 2001. These then new models were no longer offered with the option of a a factory fit rear linkage, but that is not to say specialists and Unimog dealers stopped support for the ag sector, with continued bespoke builds to meet the needs of farmers and agricultural contractors.

Moving to the current Unimog UGE series, these remain what they have always been. A tool carrier and one that can be adapted to fit a huge range of duties; Mercedes-Benz build the basic Unimog as a ‘chassis cab’, leaving it to specialists to supply the kit that turns the ‘Mog’ into what the customer wants. As previously outlined, the ‘basic’ Unimog was strongly marketed to farm users when it was sold alongside the MB-trac tractor in the 1980s, the factory ‘AG’ spec models enjoying modest but consistently decent sales. Models such as the popular U1200 AG helped pioneer the ‘fast tractor’ sector, enabling farmers and contractors to break