Mercedes-Benz short-bonnet trucks

Last updated
Mercedes-Benz Kurzhauber
Mercedes-Benz-L-series-4x2.JPG
Overview
Manufacturer Daimler-Benz (1959-1995)
Freightliner (1975-1991)
Iran Khodro Diesel Company (1979-present)
Body and chassis
Class Truck
Layout FR layout
Chronology
Successor Mercedes-Benz NG

The Mercedes-Benz "Kurzhauber" (short-bonnet) truck is a conventional layout, cab-after-engine truck manufactured from 1959 to present day. In Germany it is most commonly referred to as the Kurzhauber (for "short bonnet"). [1] The engine intruded into the cabin underneath the windshield, all in the name of making a shorter truck to meet the strict period German regulations on overall length. The short-bonnet truck was built in many countries and remains in service throughout many of the regions to which it was exported.

Contents

Brazilian-built Mercedes-Benz L1318 (Uruguay) MB L1318 Uruguay.jpg
Brazilian-built Mercedes-Benz L1318 (Uruguay)

History

Mercedes-Benz LK 323 Mercedes-Benz LK 323 FMO 12.06.22 JM (2).jpg
Mercedes-Benz LK 323

The first short-bonnet truck model, the Mercedes-Benz L 337, was first produced in Germany in 1959. Its technical successors were in production for export until 1995, long after domestic German sales had ended. [1] The short-bonnet truck was a big export success for Mercedes-Benz and became very popular in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, South America, and Africa.

Originally, medium-weight trucks (L 323 and L 327, with 100 PS or 74 kW inline-six diesels) intended for shorter delivery and construction work were built in Daimler-Benz' Mannheim plant. The heavier trucks, for long-distance and heavy construction work, were built in the Gaggenau plant. [2] These were designated L 337 and L 332 B (L 334 B from 1960), with 12 t (26,500 lb) or 19 t (41,900 lb) total weights and 172–180 PS (127–132 kW) diesel six-cylinders. In 1962 the more powerful 19-tonne L 334 C was added, mainly intended for export. The multiple model designations were letter combinations reflecting the vehicle's intended use, until a new system (still in use today) was introduced in the summer of 1963 to include overall weight and engine power . [2]

The 5.7 L (5,675 cc) OM 352 was Mercedes-Benz' first direct-injection diesel engine. After having debuted in 1964, a 130 PS (96 kW) was installed in the Kurzhauber in the 1967 L/LP 1113 B series ("11" for the tonnage, "13" reflecting tens of horsepower). The engine (and other versions thereof) gradually spread through the range, replacing the earlier indirect-injection units. [3]

Just as the Dodge Power Wagon became synonymous with oil exploration throughout Arabia in the 1950s, the short-bonnet trucks, together with the Kenworth 953, became synonymous with the Arabian exploration boom throughout the 1960s. Many roads throughout Arabia were not surfaced until the early 1980s and there were no weight or length limitations on road haulage. This meant that the trucks carried heavier loads than those for which they were designed - in some instances three times the maximum designated loaded weight. In carrying these loads, the short-bonnet trucks gained a reputation for toughness and reliability. Nearly all short-bonnet trucks shipped to Arabia were orange in colour, while all short-bonnet trucks shipped to North Africa were green in colour.

Kurzhauber of Brazilian origins were also assembled and sold in North America until 1991, when they were replaced by the new Class 6 and Class 7 trucks from Freightliner (FL60/FL70). [4] [5] This was the last Mercedes-Benz truck to be sold in North America until the Sprinter in 2001, although the Mercedes-Benz badge persisted on Freightliner engines of Mercedes-Benz origin. [6]

Continuation

LK 1924 Model, made by Iran Khodro Diesel Mercedes Benz LK 1924 Persia.JPG
LK 1924 Model, made by Iran Khodro Diesel

After 1995, production in South Africa ceased but was continued at Mercedes-Benz factories in South America, where the Kurzhauber had already been built for decades. The trucks built in Brazil received a facelift in 1982, with a squared-off grille in black plastic featuring rectangular headlights for a more modern (albeit somewhat incongruous) look. [3] Brazilian-built Mercedes-Benz short-bonnet trucks were assembled CKD (completely knocked down) by Freightliner until the end of 1990, the result of Daimler-Benz' 1981 purchase of the Oregon-based manufacturer. [7] The Brazilian Kurzhauber were sold as Class 6/7 trucks in the United States until 1991, when a Freightliner-badged replacement took over. Mercedes-Benz never made any substantial inroads into the US market, with a 1.5 percent market penetration in the segment in 1989 (2,037 trucks sold). [7]

In Argentina, the short-bonnet trucks were made until 1997, when manufacture ceased in favour of the Sprinter and bus chassis only. The models made in the Virrey del Pino plant were: L 311, L 312, L/LS 1112, LA 1112, L 914, LA/LAS 1114, L/LK/LS 1114, L/LK 1215, L/LK 1218, L/LK 1514, L/LS/LK 1517, L/LS 1521, LA 1419, L/LS/LK 1518, L/LS 1526, L/LK 1615, L 1619, L 1620, L/LS 1622, L/LS 1633. In this country, the most popular line model was the Mercedes-Benz 1114, referred to in Spanish as the "once-catorce" ("eleven-fourteen"), while since 2016 the Atron 1735 has been the only short-bonnet model made in Argentina.

In Iran the Kurzhauber is still produced by Iran Khodro Diesel Company (formerly known as Khawar. This series was offered in five models: the 2628, 2624, 1921, 1924 and 911. The old 2628 model which is turbo-charged and has a suspension developed by Meiller-Kipper is known as Meiller Benz (بنز مایلر), while 2624 is known as "Zir Meiller" (meaning under meiller, since it has a similar suspension as 2628 "under" itself, but the "over" which is the engine and transmission are different [8] ). 1924 and 2624 models are still in production with OM-355 LA engine, ZF gearbox, A/C, power steering, parking heater, and ABS brakes. [9] 2628 and 911 models are discontinued.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unimog</span> Range of tractors and lorries made by Daimler AG

The Unimog is a line of multi-purpose tractors, trucks and lorries that has been produced by Boehringer from 1948 until 1951, and by Daimler Truck since 1951.

Freightliner Trucks is an American semi truck manufacturer. Founded in 1929 as the truck-manufacturing division of Consolidated Freightways, the company was established in 1942 as Freightliner Corporation. Owned by Daimler AG from 1981 to 2021, Freightliner is now a part of Daimler Truck subsidiary Daimler Truck North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Sprinter</span> Light commercial vehicle

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Freightliner nameplates. In the U.S., it was built from complete knock down (CKD) kits by Freightliner. Re-badged and re-engined Sprinters were also sold by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as the Volkswagen LT and the Volkswagen Crafter. They are now primarily marketed by Mercedes-Benz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz buses</span> German manufacturer of buses and coaches

Mercedes-Benz has been producing buses since 1895 in Mannheim in Germany. Since 1995 Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches is a brand of EvoBus GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Atego</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercedes-Benz Atego is a range of general-purpose rigid trucks introduced by Daimler Truck in 1998. A new model was introduced in 2004, followed by a facelift in 2010 and another new model in 2013. The latest version is available in gross vehicle weights of 6.5 to 16 tonnes (t) and is powered by a straight 4- or 6-cylinder engine.

Iran Khodro Diesel Company is manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the Iranian market and in the market of several other countries with political agreements in the Middle East, CIS and Africa with half a century experience under license of Daimler-Benz of Germany. Iran Khodro Diesel Company has almost 80% of bus and about 70% of the local market share.

Mercedes-Benz Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, headquartered in Mexico City.

The Mercedes-Benz MB100 is a light commercial cabover van (M) made by Mercedes-Benz España S.A. from 1981 to 1996 at their Vitoria-Gasteiz factory in northern Spain. The third generation model was manufactured by SsangYong alongside the rebadged SsangYong version from 1995 to December 2003 in South Korea, with another rebadged variant manufactured by Maxus of SAIC Motor from 2009 to 2014 in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz TN</span> Motor vehicle

In 1977 Daimler-Benz introduced a new van/truck, called Mercedes-Benz T1 internally. Other designations were series TN / T1N and Bremer Transporter, since the vehicle was built in the Transporter-Plant in Bremen, Germany, first. In the years 1983/1984 production went - piece by piece - to the Transporter-Plant-Düsseldorf. The internal chassis-designations are: 601, 602 and 611.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz T2</span> Transporter manufactured by Daimler-Benz

The Mercedes-Benz T2 is a semi-bonneted light commercial vehicle that was manufactured by Daimler-Benz. The T2 is also known as the "Düsseldorf Transporter", since it was built in Düsseldorf from 1967 to 1991. The third generation, built from 1996 at Ludwigsfelde, was branded the Mercedes-Benz Vario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford L series</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford L-series is a range of commercial trucks that were assembled and marketed by Ford between 1970 and 1998. They are also known as Ford Louisville or, for the 1990s aerodynamic models, Ford Aeromax. The first dedicated Class 8 truck produced by the company, although Ford had been producing "Heavy Duty" trucks since 1948 and their "Super Duty" lineup since 1958. The L-Series was the successor of the F-900/F-1000 Super Duty and the Ford N-Series. The line encompassed a wide range of models in GVWR Classes 6 through 8, as either straight trucks or as semi-tractors, with vehicles developed for medium-duty, on-highway, severe-service, and vocational applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz L 319</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercedes-Benz L 319 is a light commercial vehicle built by Mercedes-Benz between 1955 and 1968. Larger than a standard delivery van, but smaller than a conventional light truck of the period, it was the manufacturer's first model in this class. The vehicle was offered with a range of van and truck bodies. Special application and minibus variants were also available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz NG</span> Motor vehicle

The "New Generation“ is a series of trucks by Daimler-Benz built from 1973 to 1988. It was then replaced by the Mercedes-Benz SK series. With the "New Generation", Daimler-Benz expanded its market position in the medium and heavy truck segments. Its cab was also used by Mercedes-Benz of North America, who confusingly offered it with inline-six or -five engines as the LP series beginning in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freightliner Argosy</span> Model line of cabover trucks

The Freightliner Argosy is a model line of cabover trucks that was produced by the American truck manufacturer Freightliner from the 1999 to 2020 model years. Developed as the replacement for the FLB cabover, the Argosy was a Class 8 truck, configured primarily for highway use. Competing against the International 9800, Kenworth K100E, and Peterbilt 362, the Argosy was the final Class 8 cabover marketed in North America, following the decline in use of the design in the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freightliner Business Class (FL-Series)</span> Motor vehicle

The Freightliner Business Class (FL-Series) is a range of medium-duty trucks that was assembled by the American manufacturer Freightliner Trucks from 1991 to 2007. The first medium-duty trucks sold by the company, the FL60/FL70 replaced the Mercedes-Benz L-series trucks which were withdrawn from the United States market during 1991. The Business Class range was sold as both a straight truck and a semitractor. During the late 1990s, the Business Class would become popular in bus applications, in both cowled-chassis and cutaway-cab configurations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz L 4500</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercedes-Benz L 4500 was a heavy duty truck by Mercedes-Benz. It was built by Daimler-Benz from 1939 – 1944 in the Mercedes-Benz plant Gaggenau, and from 1944 – 1945 by Saurer. The vehicle is a long-bonnet truck and was offered as a rear-wheel-drive truck and as an all-wheel-drive truck. The German Wehrmacht used the L 4500 with armoured cabins as Flak trucks during World War II. Due to the lack of production material, the cabin was replaced with the simplified standardised Wehrmacht cabin and the mudwings with simplified wings in 1943. Also, the L 4500 chassis was used for the Sonderkraftfahrzeug 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz L 337</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercedes-Benz L 337 is a lorry made by Daimler-Benz, sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. Introduced in March 1959, it was already discontinued in 1961, and replaced with the L 338. The L 337 is the first generation of Mercedes-Benz' heavy-duty "short-bonnet lorries", and has, in its default configuration, the "long" short bonnet, which is 300 mm longer than the typical Mercedes-Benz medium duty short-bonnet lorry's bonnet. Mercedes-Benz also offered the L 337 as a forward-control lorry, called the LP 337.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Argentina</span> Automotive manufacturer in Argentina

Mercedes-Benz Argentina S.A.U. is the Argentine subsidiary of international conglomerate Mercedes-Benz Group which produces and markets Mercedes-Benz utility vehicles in the country. The company was established in 1951 and has its assembly plant in Virrey del Pino, La Matanza Partido, where trucks and buses have been produced. Furthermore, MBA imports a wide range of luxury automobile models including sedans, SUVs, and AMG performance cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unimog 405</span> Motor vehicle

The Unimog 405 is a vehicle of the Unimog-series by Mercedes-Benz, made by Daimler Truck Holding AG. Developed in the 1990s, the Unimog 405 has been in production since 2000. Originally, DaimlerChrysler produced the Unimog at Gaggenau; in 2002, production was moved to Wörth am Rhein. The Unimog 405 is the implement carrier version of the Unimog and the successor to most previous Unimogs. Although retaining many characteristics typical of the Unimog, the 405's axle and chassis design concept with control arms instead of torque tubes marks a "paradigmatic change" in Unimog design.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Lastwagen und das Wirtschaftswunder: Kurzhauber lösen die Haubenwagen aus der Nachkriegszeit ab" [Trucks and the economic miracle: The Kurzhauber replaces the post-war bonneted trucks]. Classic (in German). Mercedes-Benz. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  2. 1 2 "Mercedes-Benz" (in German). www.lkw-infos.eu. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  3. 1 2 "Mercedes-Benz: L / LA / LK / LF / LS middle range". TrucksPlanet. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  4. Dwyer, John J. (July 1990). "The New Models for 1991: Medium Trucks". Fleet Owner. Vol. 85, no. 7. FM Business Publications. p. 84.
  5. Stark, Harry A., ed. (1981). Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1981. Vol. 43. Detroit, MI: Ward's Communications, Inc. p. 41.
  6. Dwyer, p. 83
  7. 1 2 Duncan, Thomas W. (July 1990). "Freightliner nameplate chosen for new medium-duty trucks". Fleet Owner. Vol. 85, no. 7. FM Business Publications. p. 18.
  8. "تفاوت بنز مایلر و زیر مایلر چیست؟ - باربری باراست". barast.com (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  9. "Models in production". Iran Khodro Diesel Company Official Website. 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-06.

Bibliography

  • Gaier, Achim (2021). Mercedes-Benz LKW: Die unvergessenen Kurzhauber[Mercedes-Benz Trucks: The unforgettable short-bonnet vehicles] (in German). Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN   9783613043718.