Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle
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Pinzgauer is a high mobility all-terrain 4x4 and 6x6 military utility vehicle manufactured in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom, by Automotive Technik (ATL). ATL has been manufacturing the Pinzgauer since the year 2000. Before then the Pinzgauer was produced by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria (hence the name, based on an Austrian breed of horse). ATL has since then been acquired by Stewart & Stevenson Services Inc in 2005, which in turn became a subsidiary of the aerospace and defence group Armor Holdings Inc in May 2006.
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[edit] First generation
The original prototype was produced in 1965 and production began in 1971, as successor of the Haflinger. This first generation model was produced until 1985 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch.
The Pinzgauer is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made. It isn't as fast as a HMMWV but it can climb over rougher terrain and carry more payload. Even the smaller 710M can carry 10 people, or two NATO pallets. It can also tow 11,000 kg. It can drive 800 km on one tank of fuel and 2000 km with additional tanks. The first generation Pinzgauer is available in both four-wheel drive (model 710) and six-wheel drive (model 712) versions.
The Pinzgauer was also designed to be reliable and easy to fix. That is why it comes with an air-cooled carbureted engine. Air-cooled carbureted engines are still in use in many small aircraft due to their reliability. This is partially due to the fact that air-cooled engines have been around longer, and partially due to the fact that they are simpler and have fewer parts. The engine in the pinzgauer is a special engine designed specially for it. It has more than one oil pump so that the engine will not get starved of oil no matter the orientation.
It also has a very advanced chassis that gives it its high mobility. It has a central tube chassis with a transaxle which distributes the weight more evenly and keeps the center of gravity as low as possible. The differentials are all sealed units and never require additional lubrication. The pinzgauer also has portal axles just like the HMMWV, Hummer H1, and Unimog to provide extra clearance over obstacles. The 710 4x4 was the more popular variant, but the pinzgauer was designed to have a very capable 6x6 configuration from the start. The rear suspension on the back of the 6x6 712 is designed to provide maximum traction in the most demanding circumstances.
During production from 1971 until 1985 18,349 first-generation 710s and 712s were produced and sold to both Civilian and Government buyers.
[edit] Body type variants:
[edit] 710 4x4
| M | soft top with rear passenger seats (10 passenger total) |
| T | flat top carrier |
| K | 5 door station wagon |
| AMB-Y | ambulance with 3 doors |
| AMB-S | ambulance with air-portable removable shelter |
[edit] 712 6x6
| M | soft top with rear passenger seats |
| T | flat top carrier |
| FW | fire truck |
| K | 5 door station wagon |
| W | workshop with air-portable shelter |
| DK | 4 door crew cab pickup |
| AMB-S | ambulance, with air-portable removable shelter |
The most common body types are either "K" (hard-topped) or "M" (soft-topped) types.
[edit] Specifications
All the first generation Pinzgauers are equipped with:
- 2.5 L air-cooled four cylinder engine
- Power: 87 hp (64 kW)
- Torque: 180 N·m
- 5 speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case
- 4 or 6 wheel drive with on-the-fly hydraulic differential locks
- Fully independent suspension
- Backbone chassis tube
- Integrated differentials
- 24 volt electrical system
- Vacuum operated Power Brakes
- Portal axles to give extra clearance
[edit] Importing
A popular idea in North America and other countries is to import first generation Pinzgauers for individual use. Any Pinzgauer can be imported, but due to the high cost and the difficulty in certifying them the second generation Pinzgauers are very rarely imported. First generation Pinzgauers are often imported because they are widely available and thus cheaper. Both Switzerland and Austria have released many 1st generation pinzgauers into the civilian marketplace as they converted their fleet to newer trucks. Likewise, 1st generation Pinzgauers sold to civilians in Europe are occasionally found and imported.
Vehicles over 25 years old are much easier to import due a rolling 25 year exemption to DOTregulations and a rolling 21 year exemption for EPA requirements. The first generation Pinzgauers were equipped with typical safety equipment for that era: Seat Belts, Emergency Flashers, etc. and have no difficulty meeting US standards for vehicles of that age. In many aspects the Pinzgauer was better equipped from a safety perspective than many contemporary 4x4s (Jeeps, Land-rovers, etc.) coming from the factory with seat belts, power brakes, integral roll bars, and other safety focused design features. Like most 4x4's from the 70's and early 80's, you do have to be aware of the higher center of gravity similar to Land-cruisers, Trooper, Explorers, Broncos, Blazers, and Jeep CJ-5s. As with the other 4x4's of that era, it is possible to tip them if driven aggressively or inappropriately. But most will find the Pinzgauer to be as safe or safer than its contemporaries due to the high quality of engineering the SDP factory utilized.
The first generation trucks are popular with off-roaders world-wide due to their low cost and their ability in off-roading. There are several shops in the USA that deal with importing pinzgauers from both individual sales and government auctions. Dealers are also found in Canada and other countries.
[edit] Second generation
In 1980 Steyr-Daimler-Puch started development on a second generation Pinzgauer. After 6 years of R&D the first second generation Pinzgauer rolled off the assembly line in 1986. In the year 2000 Magna, who bought Steyr-Daimler-Puch sold its rights to the Pinzgauer to Automotive Technik in the UK. They took over production of the Pinzgauer and still make it to this day.
The four-wheel-drive Model is now called a 716 and the six-wheel-drive model is now called a 718. The same letter body type designations apply. The new 716 has the same payload rating as the old 712, and the new 718 also has a similarly higher payload capacity.
There were a few minor changes to the design of the Pinzgauer:
- Inline 6 cylinder Volkswagen turbo diesel engine
- Slightly wider track
- Slightly bigger tires
- Disk brakes
- Standard automatic transmission with optional manual transmission
The second generation vehicle went through several minor revisions through its life, unlike the first generation which used the same design throughout production. The first second-generation Pinzgauers were designated P80 (1980). It went through a revision in 1990 (P90), 1993 (P93), and an engine change in 2002. This was a new Volkswagen TDI engine that met the new Euro III emissions requirements.
[edit] Worldwide markets
The Pinzgauer is used quite widely in the United Kingdom as a fire engine in smaller towns and villages and is increasingly replacing the Land Rover Defender in the military utility vehicle role despite its high cost of upwards of US$100,000 per unit. A new version called the "Vector" is to enter service in the British Army in early 2007 as part of an effort to provide safer patrol vehicles for troops in Afghanistan. The 6x6 vector PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) will, according to the manufacturer, "Build on the existing proven design, with enhancements that will include a combination of physical protection as well as the use of sophisticated electronic counter measures to maximise survivability while on patrol". However, some critics have called the Vector a "coffin on wheels", as it has no windows or firing ports for it's passengers (reducing it's effectiveness as a patrol vehicle) and is not apparently mine proof (flat chassis, driver's seat positionned over the front wheel,...).
Many Pinzgauers were sold to military forces (initially Austrian and Swiss) to be used as non-tactical utility vehicles. Typical military roles are as general purpose utility truck, command vehicles, troop carrier, ambulance, and tow vehicle. Roles very similar to other civilian sourced CUCV vehicles like Land-Rover in the UK, the Blazer CUCV in the US, and Geländewagen in many European countries.
The New Zealand army has purchased 321 Pinzgauer vehicles in 8 variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role.
The Pinzgauer was also marketed to the civilian marketplace world-wide for use as campers, farm trucks, ambulances, fire-trucks, and rescue vehicles. Likewise, many ended up being used as tourist vans due to their large passenger capacity and stable, reliable platform. Pinzgauers have been used as tourist transports in Africa, Australia, South America, Hawaii, and other exotic locales. Some are still in use today. Pinzgauers were also marketed to and used extensively by energy companies for oil exploration purposes. A few pinzgauers were used for off-road racing, including the famous Paris to Dakar Rally.
Similar-purposed vehicles include the German Daimler-Benz Unimog and Geländewagen trucks, the British Land Rover Wolf, and the American HMMWV "Humvee".
[edit] Pinzgauer capabilities
The Pinzgauer is a remarkable offroad vehicle. Its capabilities can even exceed that of the HMMWV (Hummer) and vastly exceeds the Jeep.
- 45 degree approach and departure angle
- 100% slope or until tyres lose traction
- 700 mm fording depth
- Can climb down a 360 mm wall
- 43.5 degree side-slope
- 1000 kg of payload
- 360 mm of clearance (lowest point when fully loaded)
- 90 km/h top speed
- Full engine power available at 4 km/h
- M body type carries 10 people (4X4), 14 people (6x6)
