Global heavy vehicle OEM Mercedes-Benz Trucks has announced the start of celebrations to mark its 130th anniversary of truck history, with the first Daimler truck to be reconstructed.
The brand will open its 130 years trucks to the public at Retro Classics Stuttgart from February 19 to 21, reconstructing the first Daimler truck from 1896 while also celebrating 30 years of the Actros, 80 years of Unimog and 75 years of Setra coaches.
“130 years of trucks stand for 130 years of pioneering spirit and innovation. We can be proud of how far we have come and at the same time, this anniversary motivates us to continue our journey,” Mercedes-Benz Trucks head of global sales and marketing Jean-Marc Diss says.
“Tradition and future are inseparably linked at Mercedes‑Benz Trucks, just like our clear focus on the needs of our customers and on first‑class service. This includes thinking forward and continuously developing transport solutions that benefit our customer.”
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The stand at the event will include the reconstruction of the world’s first motorised truck presented by Gottlieb Daimler in 1896.
The two‑cylinder “Phoenix” rear‑mounted engine delivers four horsepower with a displacement of 1.06 litres and drives the rear axle via a belt system. Coil springs protect the sensitive engine from vibrations, and the front axle is steered via chains.
The driver sits on an elevated coach‑style bench, while the engine is positioned at the rear. Daimler had already integrated a principle still used today in heavy‑duty trucks in the planetary hub‑reduction axle.
In addition to this truck, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is also presenting restorations of the Daimler cardan-shaft truck from 1899, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz L 1500 with wood-gas generator, an early Unimog from 1946 and the latest Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 safety truck.
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