Unimog Museum in Gaggenau in Baden-Württemberg

In the picturesque valley of the Murg, in Baden-Württemberg, paradise for hikers, the name of Gaggenau is closely linked to that of the automotive world. This year, in 2019, the city is celebrating 125 years of automobile manufacturing.

This is where the Daimler-Benz factory built the Unimogs, UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät for 50 years. An interactive museum traces the history and present of these fabulous universal motorized vehicles.

The history of this multifunction vehicle began after World War II. The former director of the aircraft engine construction department of Daimler-Benz, Albert Friedrich, had the idea of developing a machine to facilitate the work of the peasants: four-wheel drive of the same size, a chassis on which we could adopt different working tools at the rear as well as at the front, in the center or in height, without destabilizing the vehicle.

“It was a bit of an evolution of a traditional tractor, but more practical,” explains Herbert, a volunteer guide and great Unimog expert. "The first model rolled out of the Mercedes factory in 1951, with parts found on the black market." Faced with the success met, Mercedes decides to embark on mass production.
The first models are for agricultural use only. The Swiss army adopted it quickly. "It was interesting to intervene in the mountains, to transport the material intended for the construction of telecommunications for example. "

The accessories change according to needs: shovels for snow removal, rotary brushes for cleaning the pavement, cutters for laying gas pipes and various cables. “In just one pass, you can dig the trench, lay the pipes and cap it immediately,” explains Herbert.

"Its robustness has also made it the preferred vehicle for adventurers for expeditions in the Sahara".

From 1955, the FFA asked for adaptations for military use. Outside the museum, you can see a vehicle used in Afghanistan.
The construction of this fascinating technical museum was decided in 2001, when the production of Unimog left Gaggenau for the Daimler site in Wörth.

To really understand the capabilities of these machines, visitors can climb aboard a Unimog and set off, in the company of an experienced driver, on an eventful course, made up of impressive climbs and descents, improbable inclines, perfect for the visitor to discover the impressive power of Unimogs.