Buy This Mercedes Unimog and No One Will Know How Loaded You Really Are

Every petrolhead and their grandmother knows that no one should challenge a Mercedes-Benz Unimog to an off-roading duel unless their ride features a ladder-frame chassis, a low-range gearbox, massive all-terrain tires wrapped around a set of small wheels, a snorkel, a pair of winches, extra lights, underbody protection, steel bumpers, and side steps, and a few other things.

Now, if you felt the need to turn that occasional run through the woods into a walk in the park, then you should look no further than this model. Countless examples are looking for new homes on the used car market at any given moment, and we just stumbled upon one that we think is worthy of your attention. After all, it looks great (for a work truck) and seems ready to take on Mother Nature without second thoughts.

Numerous derivatives of this beast have come out over the years, and it's common to see them being used by firefighters worldwide. Some have become rugged ambulances, whereas others have gone back to basics by becoming snowplows. A select few can be seen driving up and down muddy trails all day long, and one thing is certain: the chances of encountering one at the local shopping mall are close to zero unless there’s a zombie apocalypse.

This one was born in 1992 and was originally purchased by the Belgium Fire Department. Having completed its duties, it was imported to the United States in 2022 and currently holds a clean Michigan title. The vehicle has only ~32,000 miles (~51,000 km) under its belt, and due to the low mileage and proper maintenance, it is said to be in "excellent condition." According to the vendor, it's also "a highly desirable collector's item," and it's currently searching for a new home.

More on that latter part in a few moments, as first, we have to tell you what lies under the hood. That would be a diesel engine with six inline cylinders and a 5.7-liter displacement. The motor is "renowned for its reliability and robust performance," the vendor says, and it is hooked up to an eight-speed manual gearbox. A four-wheel drive system is obviously on deck, and it can haul some serious cargo in the open bed that has replaced the firetruck one.

The tires are new, and the interior was upgraded to feature new seats at the front, a reupholstered back seat, and tinted windows. This Unimog has also received new filters and an oil change, and it was recently resprayed in the original factory color. All components are said to be original, and as the vendor put it in just two words: "Everything works." Thus, this vehicle ticks all the right boxes to the right owner, who will have to cough out a small fortune should they want to park it in their driveway.

As any gearhead could tell you, no Mercedes-Benz Unimog is cheap unless they're in a severely beaten-up condition. Naturally, one that was recently repainted, features new wheels, a few upgrades inside, has only a few miles (for such a ride) under its belt, and a few other bells and whistles will set you back a lot of money. The listing on Garage Kept Motors reveals an asking price of $149,900.

Is that a good deal for a Unimog? It depends on whom you ask, as a deep-pocketed collector with a soft spot for this model would probably buy it in a heartbeat. A good chunk of the high-riding crowd would likely get a G-Wagen instead, which starts at $143,000 in our market in the G 550 configuration, which uses a 4.0L V8 bi-turbo rated at 416 hp (422 ps/310 kW) and does 0-60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 5.6 seconds.

The superior AMG G 63 carries an MSRP of $183,000 for the 2024 model year and brings a handcrafted V8 engine with twin turbos that steams out 577 hp (585 ps/430 kW). From $174,350, excluding destination, options, and dealer markups, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS becomes available, and the EQS SUV Maybach kicks off at $179,900 if you're into electric luxury crossovers.

Chances are you're not. Otherwise, you wouldn't have read about this awesome Unimog, which deserves a caring owner who's not afraid of elbow grease and to unleash it on some steep trails occasionally. If you plan on making it yours, then congrats on your decision! You can access the online listing here. So, are you also interested in the Mercedes Unimog? And would you spruce up your collection with a nice example if you won the lottery? I would, and it would be an all-black one.