When one of the country's foremost experts on the venerable Dodge Power Wagon calls and says he has something special for you, well, you get in the car and head out to see what's in store. What we found was perhaps the coolest thing on four wheels, the only 4x4 capable of out-mudding the Power Wagon, and arguably the finest of its kind in the US. The Mercedes-Benz Unimog is two parts truck and one part tractor, used throughout the world for some of the most demanding and unique jobs in some of the worst places, ranging from back hoe to the simple 3-way dump truck seen here. With legendary Mercedes-Benz build quality, grossly over-built mechanicals, and a function-over-form look that's completely industrial and totally cool, there's simply nothing else like it on the planet.

This is an ultra-rare long wheelbase late-production 1980 Unimog 416 DOKA with a crew cab, featuring the "round" cab that's by far the most popular version with collectors and enthusiasts. There are less than a dozen known in the US and surely no more than 50 or 100 in the world, so if you want the ultimate Unimog, this is probably it. It started its life in the service of the Belgian military and was imported to the US following its retirement in the early 2000s. It spent some time out west, including a stint at a winery in California, whose obviously owner wanted to have a vehicle he could use to transport guests all over his property, and there's nothing better suited to that task than a Unimog. For safety, it was comprehensively upgraded with all-new performance seating, including a 3-across bench in back with 4-point harnesses for all five passengers. A full roll cage was installed in the cab in case worse came to worst and a gigantic 24-volt Superwinch was installed on the nose, a unit stout enough to drag the Queen Elizabeth II out of her berth. Then, as often happens, plans changed and this incredible Unimog ended up in the collection of a Power Wagon guy who obviously knows a thing or two about playing in the dirt.

In short, this Unimog is the ultimate do-anything truck. We've sold a few Power Wagons and always come away impressed with their climbing abilities, but once you look at the incredible hardware under this Mercedes, you'll never look at off-roading tools the same way again. Fit and finish are, obviously, exemplary and the silver paint is right for a Mercedes-Benz of any kind and gives this one a somewhat sleek appearance, making it seem like much more than a rudimentary tool. All four doors fit well and it's obvious that every single component on the truck was built for maximum serviceability and ease of use. The hood lifts off for easy access to the diesel powerplant underneath, there are running boards and grab handles for (relatively) easy ingress, and there's nothing on this truck that wasn't designed for a purpose. The snorkel air cleaner allows the Unimog to slog through water more than three feet deep, the powerful auxiliary lights are like flamethrowers, and there are even accessory jerry cans for fuel and a set of on-board wheel chocks in their own spring-loaded carrier. You can see the brilliant Mercedes engineers at work in every single component, as nothing is merely "adequate" for its job.

Of note, this truck carries a 3-way dump bed, which is hydraulically actuated and can dump to either side or to the rear using a unique and insanely simple pin system and single telescoping hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulics are fully functional and in excellent order, a very rare find on any Unimog and usually an extra-cost thing with most sellers. It also features both mechanical and hydraulic power take-off units, meaning that there's a bewildering array of accessories available to transform this pickup truck into a tractor, a well-digger, or just about anything you can imagine. If you're already familiar with Unimogs, you know what I'm talking about, and if you're unfamiliar with these amazing machines, trust me, it's even cooler than you think it is. Experts will be relieved to see that the rocker boxes under the doors are solid, the doors themselves don't have any structural rust or damage, and even the frame of the dump bed has only light surface rust on some of the high-wear areas. This is NOT a beat-up truck.

As I said, the interior got a fairly radical makeover when it was at the winery and it's all for the better. The seats are expensive competition buckets wrapped in supple and durable vinyl that looks almost like carbon-fiber. They're heavily padded, so once you're in there it's quite comfortable, and for truly rough going, there are Crow 4-point harnesses for all five passengers. A full roll cage was custom fabricated and painted to match the silver bodywork and offers remarkably workmanship with an unbelievable feeling of solidity. An insulated engine cover from Atkinson Vos in the UK helps control noise and heat in the cabin, making it fairly tolerable even for long drives. The driver gets a vast array of levers, knobs, and buttons to control things like the 6-speed manual transmission, 2-speed transfer case, locking differentials, mechanical power take-off, hydraulic power take-off, the dump box, and the winch up front, and it is all fully functional. And while it will take some familiarization, there's nothing that can't be mastered quickly and easily and a factory manual is included. The gauges monitor the vitals, and the dashboard includes a tachometer which was apparently not included on most Unimogs's build sheets. There's also an integrated trailer brake system and heavy-duty hitch on the back, so no worries if you have something big to pull—this Unimog won't even blink. Yeah, it's a little light on creature comforts, but you're probably not buying something like this for a night out at the symphony, now are you?

The heart of the Unimog is a Mercedes-Benz 5.8-liter turbo diesel, whose specs seem rather modest on paper until you actually drive the thing. With 110 horsepower and almost 400 pounds of torque, it'll crawl through virtually anything, particularly when combined with the versatile driveline. It shows only 101,755 kilometers on the clock (just over 63,000 miles), which is astoundingly low for a Unimog of any kind and given their reliability, it's only just now getting broken-in. It has been regularly and properly serviced and everything works as it should. The six-cylinder diesel starts quickly and easily thanks to two new 12-volt batteries (the electrical system is 24 volts) and drives surprisingly well with power steering and 4-wheel disc brakes to keep things under control. For a giant 4x4, it rides pretty nicely on pavement and bounds over obstacles like train tracks and potholes like they're not even there. Things that would stop, say, a Chevy 4x4 are hardly even noticed in a Unimog, and you can shift on the fly between 2-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive, and locking differentials front, center, and rear can be engaged on the roll to get you out of the truly hairy stuff. The axles are called "portal axles" which use reduction gears in the hubs to raise the centerline of the axle and increase ground clearance (the late, lamented mil-spec HMMVEE used a similar setup), and despite the tall gearing, it'll cruise at 45-50 MPH without complaint. If you've got the time, a Unimog will get you anywhere on the planet. It has also been fitted with a brand new set of 365/80/20 Continental radials with less than 1000 miles on them, and if you're familiar with tires, you know these retail for more than $1400 each. Yes, EACH.

Fans know this late-production 416 DOKA is the holy grail of Unimogs, in 100% functional condition with low miles and lots of desirable upgrades. It certainly isn't for the casual off-roader, but if you have a lot of property to tend or the need to carry five people and their gear someplace remote, this truck will get you there and back without drama. It hasn't been abused or modified, and thanks to the care of a known expert in the off-roading field, it's in turn-key condition ready to be enjoyed. There are cheaper Unimogs out there, but I'll bet none of them combine this one's functionality, complete hydraulic system, and extensive list of upgrades, not to mention its awesome good looks. If it's the ultimate off-roader you seek, this may very well be it.