1946

First test vehicle as early as 1946.

With its angled front end, cab with folding soft top and rear loading surface, the first test vehicle produced at the end of 1946 substantially corresponded to the subsequent production model. The name Unimog was also created during this time, as an abbreviation of the German term "Universal-Motor-Gerät". The development engineers were ready to risk a first demonstration in spring 1947, though a suitable diesel engine was still lacking. From 1947 this problem was solved by Daimler-Benz, which supplied the recently developed OM 636. This had not even received production approval yet, however Friedrich and his team confidently opted for the brand bearing the Mercedes star - after all, those involved were well known to each other.

Soon nothing stood in the way of full-scale production - except the right production partner, as Messrs. Erhard were out of the question for this role, despite their great commitment during the development phase. Various car manufacturers were approached without success, and in 1947 the machine tool company Gebrüder Boehringer in Göppingen agreed to produce the vehicle.

Materials for series production were procured - not an easy task in those difficult times. The Unimog developers also went in search of suitable tyres, as well as the vitally necessary mounted implements for their vehicle.

This was by no means an easy undertaking - after all, there were already tractors on the market, so why adapt everything to suit the very different Unimog? But shortly afterwards the Unimog was duly presented to the public at the DLG fair in Frankfurt in 1948.