Can't really claim to have ever seen one of these before. Wonder how he managed to get it registered and insured? Here in NY this would a truly Herculeon task.
Could stand to have a tag axle with all that rear over hang. Or a good set of wheelie bars.
How did this thing get here? Did somebody go through the effort of importing this thing, or was it sold here originally? I know some Mercedes dealers sold trucks into the 80's, but those were mostly unimogs and the big l series.
@anon: These last forever by normal car standards but the real reason why you don't see these is that this is noisy, thirsty and slow as hell. I should know, a friend had little brother of this, a 307, almost a decade.
Old trucks are very cheap in general so there's no sense to drive a very old one unless it's a hobby car or something.
Having a 409 as a hobby car is rare indeed.
@spitfire: Import from Germany (as Tony says) and no, I have no idea how that was done.
Yeah, not a common sight in the US. These can be imported. US regulations allow import of vehicles that are 25 years of age or older. Being a diesel it could even be registered in California.
I own a 409 just like this one, it was parked in a back yard for 7 years, new gas, new battery, new fluids and it started right up. It's slow, small engine and parts can be a bit tricky to find if you don't know where to look. I love everything else about it, planing on using it as a campaign / rv vehicle with the family. I live in Massachusetts.
Best of OPC. 
13 comments:
Love the practical, functional shape. Built to last.
Looks like it used to be owned by "Technisches Hilfswerk" -- a German government agency that has some other nifty equipment too.
Practical, functional shape yes. Built to last, no.
There is a reason why you can see old trucks in daly use in USA but not in Europe. I live in Sweden btw.
good grief. just totally nutty.
"Built to last, no"
With all do respect, the salt on your roads and lack of cleaning are the only reason these Benz trucks don't last in your neck of Europe...
These are utilitarian at it's best. Rough and ready with a drive train that can last forever.
They sure last forever... but it also takes forever to get anywhere due to the massively underpowered 2,4-liter diesel.
If the engines would not last forever, you couldn't get anywhere at all...
Can't really claim to have ever seen one of these before. Wonder how he managed to get it registered and insured? Here in NY this would a truly Herculeon task.
Could stand to have a tag axle with all that rear over hang. Or a good set of wheelie bars.
How did this thing get here? Did somebody go through the effort of importing this thing, or was it sold here originally? I know some Mercedes dealers sold trucks into the 80's, but those were mostly unimogs and the big l series.
@anon: These last forever by normal car standards but the real reason why you don't see these is that this is noisy, thirsty and slow as hell. I should know, a friend had little brother of this, a 307, almost a decade.
Old trucks are very cheap in general so there's no sense to drive a very old one unless it's a hobby car or something.
Having a 409 as a hobby car is rare indeed.
@spitfire: Import from Germany (as Tony says) and no, I have no idea how that was done.
Awesome! Love old Merc trucks. Pretty spiffy paint job too.
Yeah, not a common sight in the US. These can be imported. US regulations allow import of vehicles that are 25 years of age or older. Being a diesel it could even be registered in California.
I own a 409 just like this one, it was parked in a back yard for 7 years, new gas, new battery, new fluids and it started right up. It's slow, small engine and parts can be a bit tricky to find if you don't know where to look. I love everything else about it, planing on using it as a campaign / rv vehicle with the family. I live in Massachusetts.
there is one just like this in St. Maarten. even the same colors. its rusty though.
Exactly. Must have been a thw vehicle
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