When the folks at Mercedes-Benz needed an industrial-strength 4x4, they turned to the brilliant Austrian engineering firm Steyr-Puch. The result, of course, was the Gelandewagen, or the G-class, one of the most formidable 4x4s ever built. But say you need something beyond even the mighty G-Wagon's abilities, something versatile, something reliable, and something that can crawl over any surface with ease. The folks at Styr-Puch have you covered with the Pinzgauer, a vehicle developed for military applications and which has been used around the world for transport, search and rescue, and military applications. To date, the only off-roader that works better than the Pinzgauer has four legs.

This particular Pinzgauer is a 1976 Model 712M, which denotes its 6x6 configuration (712) and the open-sided transport body style (M). Built for the Austrian military, it was imported to the US and treated to a full military-spec rebuild about 6000 kilometers ago. Numerous upgrades were included in the freshening, resulting in one of the finest Pinzgauer 712s available in the US. It retains its mil-spec look thanks to the olive drab paint, which is not only appropriate, but durable and resistant to abrasions, so no worries about using this truck to its full potential. You can Google the details, but some of the more remarkable features include 45 degree approach and departure angles, a 100-degree climb angle, and portal axles which allow for extraordinary ground clearance without making the vehicle needlessly tall and tippy. This one is quite nicely preserved and shows no signs of a rough life in the military and given the durable components, needs nothing to go anywhere with you. The compact dimensions (it's about the size of a minivan) make it maneuverable and the no-nonsense military look has its own appeal. The open-sided troop transport body style is among the most popular, affording room for all your friends or a ton of gear (literally), and it'll take you to the most remote places without complaint.

The interior is bare-bones military basic, but the vinyl upholstery on the front buckets is in good condition and the industrial-strength controls are easy to decipher and manage. The cab-over seating position offers a commanding view of the terrain and these trucks were renowned for their safety as well as their off-roading abilities. The levers on the center console control the hydraulically-locking differentials and the two-speed transfer case, with the transmission itself being a sturdy ZF 5-speed manual with synchromesh on all five gears, giving the Pinzgauer a remarkably sophisticated feeling on the road. This one has been dressed up with diamond-plate door panels and heavy duty floors, but otherwise retains its full original specification, including seat belts for front seat passengers and all the military-spec equipment still on board. In back, there's room for maybe ten or twelve passengers and lots of equipment, plus a full-sized spare tire just in case.

The mechanical specifications are remarkable. Having been designed and built for military customers, cost was no object and the Pinzgauer received the best of everything. The engine is a rather remarkable air-cooled 2.5-liter flat four, fully waterproofed and virtually indestructible. The air-cooling eliminates problems with radiators freezing or being damaged while off-road and it's fed by a pair of Zenith carburetors that are also used on race cars, mostly due to their immunity to high-g starvation. Their application here is an obvious choice. The all-aluminum engine is happy to run on the lowest octane fuel you can find and is situated high above the front axle and out of harm's way. Remarkably, the 712 pulls down mid-teens fuel economy and there are users who report that even fully loaded with a trailer, it's hard to get it to drop below 13 MPG. Hydraulically locking differentials on all three axles allow true 6x6 operation and the front and rear axles can be locked individually for varying situations.

The transmission is the aforementioned 5-speed ZF unit feeding a 2-speed transfer case with high and low ranges which can be selected on the fly, so no stopping to change ranges or lock hubs, and all of the axles and driveshafts are enclosed in the steel backbone tube structure of the chassis and are self-lubricating. The axles are portal-style, which use reduction gears in the hub to improve ground clearance and during the most recent service, it was fitted with Stage 2 axle upgrades which allow comfortable 65 MPH cruising speeds. All the hydraulic lockers are fully functional and disc brakes were standard equipment. Six new 900x16 STA Super Lug tires were fitted not too long ago, making it ready to go anywhere today.

This truck includes all manuals and service books, the latter of which details all of the recent service work and modifications, including the axle upgrades. Every piece of original equipment, including shovels, axles, tow straps, and tools are also included. Whatever came with this truck when it was new is still included with it today.

Do some homework and you can't help but be impressed with these tough, versatile, and remarkably user-friendly trucks. It is arguably the best-designed off-roading vehicle ever created and has been used in some of the most demanding conditions around the world. Its military background has earned it the nickname "Swiss Army Truck" which certainly seems fitting. It is increasingly difficult to import these and the supply of first-generation Pinzgauers, particularly the 712 models, is finite, making this domesticated 712M almost impossible to duplicate at the asking price.