What is a Pinzgauer?
It’s a truck designed and manufactured by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria. This truck was designed without compromises for heavy duty offroad application in both, military and civilian applications.

As there is always the question how Steyr-Daimler-Puch Pinzgauer should be pronounced a wave file in Austrian German dialect was added to sound whenever this page is opened,,,,,,,,,,,,, (Thanks to Martin Langer, Vienna!)

The majority of trucks sold in the US are older then 25 years to avoid problems with registration. Most of them were used by the Swiss Army, one of the largest customers of Steyr-Puch for this truck. Some are from the Austrian or British Army. Other armies used and still use this truck too but they never bought as many as the Swiss. The price tag for a brand new one today is $100k++!

The main versions are:

710M 4x4                                                                 710K 4x4

712M 6x6                                                           712K 6x6

712AMB 6x6

The M is a troop transporter with canvas top, K is a hard top and AMB is the ambulance version with a removable “box” for air transport. There are other versions but they are very rare as they were not bought that often.

The first one came off the production line in Graz, Austria, in 1971. The British, Swiss and Austrian military forces are just a few of the main users of these machines. Their unmatched offroad ability, small size with a large weight carrying capacity, and ease of maneuvering make them the perfect troop and equipment carriers for the fighting forces.  The models manufactured today almost look the same but got some modifications over the years. Turbo Diesel water-cooled engines and disc brakes are the main ones. Their model numbers are 716 (4x4) and 718 (6x6)
Other common uses are in the Fire and Search and Rescue services, as well serving in countless utilitarian services where a heavy duty, go anywhere vehicle is needed.

The 71X models you can see on the street and offroad in the US have several things in common:
- 2.5l air-cooled 4-cyl gas engine
- ~14” of ground clearance due to their portal axle (drive goes to the top of the wheel!)
- very high load carrying capacity (the smallest 710M can load 2200lbs or 10 passengers plus tow 11000lbs!)
- factory hydraulic differential locks (4x4, rear locker, front locker) which can be activated from inside
- top speed ~65mph, gas milage 12-14mpg

Their offroad capability is outstanding! They are specified to climb hills up to the point where they loose traction (which is late! Usually beyond 45deg) and can lean 43deg to the side without rolling.

In 1985 the successor of the 710/712 was introduced. The models are 716 for the 4x4 and 718 for the 6x6. As usual they grew a bit and the engine was changed into a water-cooled Diesel. After continued production in the Austrian factory SDP (meanwhile Steyr-Magna) transferred the production to Automotive Technik in Great Britain where production is continued. A wide variety of models are manufactured with the basic models being the same as for the 710/712.

716M troop carrier                                                 716K


718M                                                                   718K


718AMB

Have a look at the different picture pages on this site and see for yourself what you can do with those trucks! Be careful, once you have been in one you will need one!