The Unimog's now-iconic 'edgy' bonnet wasn't always there — it debuted in 1974 on the first heavy-duty Unimog, the U 120 of the 425 series, and Mercedes-Benz has kept that same hard-edged look on Unimogs ever since.
Median 55 hp across 43 similar cars
Lead trim: Unimog U 1300 (425.121) OM 352 turbo diesel (123 hp) · up to 148 hp
Mercedes-Benz Unimog 425425 · 1975–1988
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 425 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe Unimog's now-iconic 'edgy' bonnet wasn't always there — it debuted in 1974 on the first heavy-duty Unimog, the U 120 of the 425 series, and Mercedes-Benz has kept that same hard-edged look on Unimogs ever since.
The Unimog 425 is the first series-production heavy-duty Unimog, made by Daimler-Benz in Gaggenau from 1975 to 1988 (3,135 built in three types, far fewer than the longer 435) alongside the long-wheelbase 435. Shown at the 1974 DLG show in Frankfurt as the Unimog U 120 (120 PS), production models had 125 or 150 PS and were called U 1300 and U 1500; it was the first Unimog with the "edgy cab" still used today. It is a two-axle lorry with a downswept ladder frame, rear-wheel drive with manually engaged front drive, coil-sprung live portal axles with panhard rods, pneumatic dual-circuit disc brakes on all wheels, two switchable PTOs (540 and 1000/min) and a hydraulic three-point linkage. Its only engine was the turbocharged 5,675 cc OM 352 straight-six diesel (110 kW / 148 hp and 340 lb·ft in the U 1500), through a pneumatically shifted UG 3/40-8 gearbox (four gears with a two-speed planetary group, eight in all, with a separate 1:1.03 reversing gearbox so that reverse could exceed 80 km/h — the planetary group can be locked to prevent this) or, for farm customers, a 24-speed version; top speed is 85 km/h (53 mph).
Collectors Spotted in the Mercedes-Benz Unimog Lineage
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Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unimog U 1300 (425.121) OM 352 turbo diesel (123 hp) | 1975–1988 | 5.7 L Inline-6 | 123 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
| Unimog U 1500 (425.141) OM 352 turbo diesel (148 hp) | 1975–1988 | 5.7 L Inline-6 | 148 hp | 340 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
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Photographs
The Unimog 435 wasn't built for farms or fire departments first — it was developed in 1975 specifically for West Germany's Bundeswehr, as the military successor to the Unimog S 404.
The Unimog's now-iconic 'edgy' bonnet wasn't always there — it debuted in 1974 on the first heavy-duty Unimog, the U 120 of the 425 series, and Mercedes-Benz has kept that same hard-edged look on Unimogs ever since.
The 406 was the first Unimog designed with a proper cab from the start — Daimler-Benz built an entirely new industrial press just to stamp its panels.
The 411 shipped with a crash gearbox (no synchro) even after Mercedes gave the smaller 404 a synchromesh box — drivers had to double-clutch until synchromesh became optional in 1957 and standard in 1959.
Of every Unimog variant ever built, the 404 S sold the most: 64,242 units between 1955 and 1980 — the best-selling Unimog in the whole lineage.
The 401/402 update gave the Unimog its first Mercedes three-pointed star on the hood, replacing the ox-horn emblem the earliest models wore.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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