german couple travelling on converted Mercedes 710

[SirAlec]

These two couple were travelling all they way from Germany. I caught up with them when they were in mt.abu and clicked some pix, drove it a bit. I thought I would share them with bhpians if its okay with moderator.!!

Its a 1969 Mercedes fire-truck converted to a RV. In europe people tend to buy old surplus fire-trucks, military radio vans, etc and convert them to RV. they feel its cheaper that way and they are solidly built (like this one India Overland).

This one I mistook for Unimog but it was not. Its powered by 6ltr L6 naturally aspirated. Fourwheel drive (high and low), rigid axle. Modded 200 litre tank+100litre (20x5jerrycans) which gave a range of about 1200 kms.

Most of the equipment were original except for speedo/oddo which was a modern VDO make. Even the mercedes logo and the various markings on switches were original. Obviously tyres were new, Fulda (german) 385/65/22.5 tubeless on OE steel rims. Two spares.

It was outfitted with a CB radio by motorola, sony mp3 player, a Garmin GPS (they say its banned in many countries on their way). A winch (dunno the make) inside the engine bay. Two custom made alloy bridge-plinths.

It was very difficult to drive. Imagine 68 years old Hans driving all the way from Bavaria.




Some more images. Left, right views. Custom tanks, mercedes logo, et all.

[SirAlec]

Offenbach City registration!, Check the german safety test and pollution test validity sticker (round thing).

Massive Fulda Tubeless tire.

Original 1969 steering along with instrument panel, retrofitted VDO oddo/speedo.

Gears, 5F and 1R and 4x4 high low. No differential lock or 2wd mode.















And finally the proud owners Hans and Heidi!!

[Nitin]

Boy! That must be quite a journey! Takes a lot of guts to do such a road trip..
Hats off the the 2 couples..!

[1100D]

Heidi rightly points to one of the best known logo's in the world, the love is universal. Fantastic.

How do they get the tyres down/up, in case of a flat?

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Heidi rightly points to one of the best known logo's in the world, the love is universal. Fantastic.

How do they get the tyres down/up, in case of a flat?

Man I envied the collection of tools they had.

They had tyrelift, made by some company called rhino..!!

[sandeepmdas]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Heidi rightly points to one of the best known logo's in the world, the love is universal. Fantastic.

Fantastic.
Fantastic machine, fantastic journey, fantastic find by a newbie...
and a fantastic comment for a fantastic expression.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by Nitin

Boy! That must be quite a journey! Takes a lot of guts to do such a road trip..
Hats off the the 2 couples..!

1 couple i guess.

living their life the way they want it.

[jkdas]

Still young at heart, the Benz and the couple. Kudos to them.

Good find SirAlec.

[ram_hyundai]

Wonderfull vehicle buddie,and all the best to them to have a sucesfull trip.That one looks pretty old and well kept.
ram

[ram]

Love the chrome horn ring on the steering wheel.
Also the black knob on the front axle lever. Europe's typical iconic way to mark everything. A curvy line to mark "rough-road" and a straight line to mark "smooth".

Also love the eight lug (to handle the high torque) 22.5-inch wheels.

The license plate shows a round blue sticker on the number plate. That says that the truck was last tested for safety in Nov/Dec 1980.

The red and white striped lion on the coat of arms indicates the state of Hessen in Germany.

The OF in the license plates means the truck was registered in
the city of Offenbach in Hessen, Germany.

Lovely vintage chromed brass handles for window winder and doorlatch release.

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas

Fantastic.
Fantastic machine, fantastic journey, fantastic find by a newbie...
and a fantastic comment for a fantastic expression.

Dude! 'newbie'...check the date i joined...lolz

I didn't knew tbhp had started allowing posting pix directly. have a huge collection of images and DIY that i write. and helped many foreign traveller with their vehicle and routes, tips etc. I do most of my repiar on my own

[newcoolgadgets]

Awesome truck and awesome truckers! I really admire their determination. The Mercedes truck looks cared for. I too love the steering with the chrome horn ring. Is that a light just below the logo on the bonnet? And how do they get the huge spare wheels up there??

All the best to the couple on their adventure!

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by newcoolgadgets

Awesome truck and awesome truckers! I really admire their determination. The Mercedes truck looks cared for. I too love the steering with the chrome horn ring. Is that a light just below the logo on the bonnet? And how do they get the huge spare wheels up there??

All the best to the couple on their adventure!

yeah thats a light! couldn't figure out the purpose. he was explaining in german.

for tyre change they had a indegenous contraption.!

[sandeepmdas]

Originally Posted by SirAlec

Dude! 'newbie'...check the date i joined...lolz

I didn't knew tbhp had started allowing posting pix directly. have a huge collection of images and DIY that i write. and helped many foreign traveller with their vehicle and routes, tips etc. I do most of my repiar on my own

Take a look at the joining date of ram_hyundai, JKDas....

Why dont u post them? AFAIK, we dont have not many threads dealing with world travellers are their rides.

Originally Posted by ram

Love the chrome horn ring on the steering wheel.

The horn ring is the highlight....typical German perfection...