The Pinzgauer is a family of high-mobility all-terrain 4WD (4×4) and 6WD (6×6) military utility vehicles. The vehicle was originally developed in the late 1960s and manufactured by Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Graz, Austria, and was named after the Pinzgauer, an Austrian breed of cattle. They were most recently manufactured at Guildford, Surrey, England, by BAE Systems Land & Armaments. It was popular amongst military buyers, with production continuing until 2007.
In 2000 the rights to the desk were sold to Automotive Technik Ltd (ATL) in the UK. ATL was acquired by Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. in 2005. In May 2006, Stewart & Stevenson became a subsidiary of the aerospace and defence group Armor Holdings, Inc. In 2007 Armor Holdings was acquired by BAE Systems plc, who discontinued UK production of the Pinzgauer, which was proving to be vulnerable to mines and improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan. Production ceased around 2009. Development work (done in the UK) on a planned Pinzgauer II was evaluated by a BAE subsidiary in Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa, but no vehicle was ever made.
Being both unarmed and unarmoured, the Pinzgauer was designed for mobility and general utility functions rather than combat or reconnaissance roles.
First generation
The original prototype was developed around 1969 and production began in 1971, as successor of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch Haflinger 700 AP 4×4 light military multi purpose offroad vehicle. The Pinzgauer first generation model (710, 712) was produced until 2000 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in the city of Graz, Austria.
It was, and is, in use in many armies around the world, like Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Albania, and Bolivia. When Austro-Canadian millionaire Frank Stronach took over the shareholder majority of Steyr-Daimler-Puch offroad vehicles, the rights to build Steyr's Pinzgauers were moved to Automotive Technik Ltd; and subsequently to a branch of BAE Systems. As of 2009, production of Pinzgauers seems to have stalled. The Graz plant has been building the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon / Puch G SUVs / offroad cars.
The Pinzgauer is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made. While not as fast on-road () as an American Humvee, it can carry more troops, and move faster over rough trails.What the heck is a Pinzgauer? Everything You Ever Wanted to Know ! – The Fast Lane Truck Even the smaller 710M can carry 10 people or two NATO pallets. Both the 4×4 and 6×6 models can tow on road; and or , respectively, off-road. It has a range of over on one tank of fuel, or nearly with the optional 125 litre tank. The first generation Pinzgauer is available in both four-wheel drive (4×4) (model 710) and six-wheel drive (6×6) (model 712) versions.
The Pinzgauer was designed to be reliable and easy to fix; it is shipped with an air-cooled petrol engine with dual-Zenith 36 mm NDIX carburetors. The engine in the Pinzgauer was specifically designed for the vehicle; it has more than one oil pump so that the engine will not get starved of oil no matter how the vehicle is oriented.
The Pinzgauer has a chassis design which contributes to its high mobility. It has a central-tube chassis with a transaxle which distributes the weight more evenly, and keeps the centre of gravity as low as possible. The differentials are all sealed units and require minimal additional lubrication. The Pinzgauer also has portal axles, like the Unimog, to provide extra clearance over obstacles. The 710 4×4 was the more popular variant, but the Pinzgauer was designed to have a very capable 6×6 configuration from the start. The rear suspension on the back of the 6×6 712 is designed to provide maximum traction in the most demanding circumstances along with increasing its towing, load carrying, and off-road abilities.
During production from 1971 until 1985, 18,349 first-generation 710s and 712s were produced and sold to both civilian and military customers.
Variants 710 model, 4×4
Msoft top with rear passenger seats (10 passenger total)Tflat bed carrierK5 door hard top station wagon (5 passenger total)AMB-Yambulance with 3 doorsAMB-Sambulance with air-portable removable shelter
712 model, 6×6
Msoft top with rear passenger seatsTflat top carrierFWfire truckK5-door station wagonWworkshop with air-portable shelterDK4-door crew cab pickupAMB-Sambulance, with air-portable removable shelter
The most common body types are either "K" (hard-topped) or "M" (soft-topped) types.
Specifications All the first generation Pinzgauers are equipped with: 2.5 litre inline four-cylinder air-cooled engine. An exception was made on certain 712 variants towards the end of production that came with a 2.7-litre air-cooled four-cylinder engine. This was primarily on ambulances. DIN rated motive power: (105 hp SAE) Torque: Five-speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case four-wheel-drive or six-wheel-drive with on-the-fly hydraulic differential locks Fully independent suspension Backbone chassis tube Integrated differentials 24 volt electrical system Vacuum assisted drum brakes Portal axles to give extra clearance
Second generation
In 1980, Steyr-Daimler-Puch started development on a second-generation Pinzgauer. After six years of research and development, the initial second generation Pinzgauer II rolled off the assembly line in 1986. In 2000, Magna, who bought Steyr-Daimler-Puch, sold its rights to the Pinzgauer to Automotive Technik in the UK who took over production of the Pinzgauer. The Pinzgauer is now owned and produced by BAE Systems Land Systems in Guildford, Surrey, however production has ceased.
The four-wheel drive (4×4) model is now called a 716, and the six-wheel drive (6×6) 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 II: Inline six-cylinder Volkswagen Group Turbocharged diesel engine model D24T ZF Friedrichshafen four-speed automatic transmission, or five-speed manual transmission Slightly wider track Slightly bigger tyres Disc brakes Standard automatic transmission, with optional manual transmission
The second generation motor 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 minor revision in 1990 (P90), and 1993 (P93), when an intercooler version of the VW engine (D24TIC) was substituted. A more significant engine change was carried out in 2002 when a new Volkswagen Group Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) engine was introduced to meet the new Euro3 emissions requirements.
Worldwide markets
The Pinzgauer (or Pinz as it is known to most British soldiers) is more common as a utility vehicle in Royal Artillery units due to its employment as a light gun tractor.
A new lightly-armoured version called the "Vector" briefly entered service in the British Army in early 2007, as part of an effort to provide safer patrol vehicles for troops in Afghanistan. The 6×6 Vector PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) would, 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, the Vector PPV was found to have unreliable suspension and wheel hubs as well as poor protection against improvised explosive devices. It quickly lost the confidence of field commanders and was withdrawn from service.
The Pinzgauer is the basis for the Tactical Ground Station (TGS) element of the Raytheon Systems Limited Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR). The TGS comprises two workstation vehicles, a mission support vehicle, and a standard utility vehicle.
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 vehicles like Land Rover in the UK, the Blazer CUCV in the US, and the Mercedes G in many European countries.
Yugoslavia bought 3975 Pinzgauers from 1971 in all variants 4x4 and 6x6.
The New Zealand Army has purchased 321 Pinzgauer vehicles in 8 variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role.
The Malaysian Army purchased 168 2 Ton 4×4 716 Gun Tractors and 164 2 Ton 6×6 718 Mortar Transporters to replace older Volvo C303 and C304 in their inventories. It is affectionately called "Piglet" due to its design.
The US Army purchased 20 Turbo Diesel 718M during the early 1990s, imported for the Army’s Delta Force as a deep reconnaissance platform. They were used in the 1991 Gulf War as well as the 2003 Iraq war, and eventually phased out at 2010–2011.
The Pinzgauer was marketed to the civilian marketplace worldwide 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. The Navajo Nation has a small fleet of these for tourist transport within Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, still in use in 2024.
Pinzgauers were 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 and the International Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia.
Military users
Military users include:
Transitional Sovereignty Council
– Pinzgauer Vector: at least three armored ambulances and at least eight APCs as of June 2022
Former users
Republic of Bolivia (1964–1982) / Republic of Bolivia (1982–2010) Republic of Cyprus (Flag 1960–2006) / Military dictatorship in Nigeria Sultanate of Oman (1970–1995) Republic of Seychelles Republic of Sudan (1985–2019) / Sudanese transition to democracy (2019–2021) Kingdom of Swaziland / /
Pinzgauer capabilities
The Pinzgauer is a highly accomplished off-road vehicle. Its capabilities, in some operational scenarios, are better than that of the Humvee and the Land Rover Defender. 38°/45° approach and departure angles 100% slope, or until tyres lose traction fording depth of ground clearance (lowest point when fully loaded) Can climb down a wall 43.5° side-slope 1000/1500 kg of payload (4×4/6×6) top speed (710 – 4×4): (712 – 6×6): (716 – 4×4): (718 – 6×6): Full engine power available for 710/712 at M body type carries 10 people (4×4), 14 people (6×6)
Production
Year Production figures Model 710 Model 712 Turbo D Model 716, 718 1965 1 0 1966 0 0 1967 10 0 1968 0 0 1969 8 0 1970 0 0 1971 167 0 1972 927 0 1973 1,443 0 1974 1,750 0 1975 2,006 0 1976 2,430 0 1977 1,445 0 1978 611444 1670 1979 946 799 1470 1980 1,294 933361 0 1981 892312 580 0 1982 1,744856 8880 1983 1,626649 977 0 1984 652185 467 0 1985 42290 326 6 1986 65 1987 308 1988 629 1989 131 1990 687 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Sum 20,194 (until 1990) ~ 30,000 (until 2000) 5,215
See also Steyr-Puch Haflinger Humvee (HMMWV) Jeep J8 Land Rover Wolf Land Rover 101 Forward Control Mercedes-Benz G-Class Toyota Mega Cruiser Toyota Type 73 medium truck UAZ-469 Unimog Volvo C303 LuAZ-969/LuAZ-967 "Volyn"
Bibliography
References
External links
Official website The official website of the Pinzgauer's French-speaking users (Multilingual) BAE Systems official site
Pinzgauer BBS C. Kieslings Pinzgauer Site Pinzgauer in the New Zealand Army