What to pay for a 79 Unimog?

[mkitchen]

There is a 79 Unimog on the county website auction and the current bid is $3500. I believe that the reserve is set at $5000. It has a snow blower on it that I would attempt to sell if I bought it but my question is how high should a fellow bid on something like this.
The truck is a 6 cylinder diesel with a six speed tranny. Tires have good rubber but are weather checked and it does run. Total mikeage is only 5331, not a whole lot of use for a snowblower in the desert. It is also a short wheelbase. I know that it is hard to get a value for something like this but I really have no idea it is worth bidding on or not. So any help on this very vague question would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mikey

 

[Ozarker]

When I think about any older vehicle, I consider the salvage value as well. In the event I get into some build up and find it's not working out as planned, you can part a vehicle out and do better than selling a fixer. My first rule is you need to dump the parts within 30 days unless you have a salvage yard in your back yard.

Look to the market, now that we have Ebay, that should be much easier.

Anyway, the salvage value will limit your loss, so when I get older vehicles (if there is much money in them at all) I will identify what the risk actually is.

Your Mog might be a great find, that certainly isn't much but who knows where bids might go. Bid what you can afford to lose I'd say after salvage.

I would also think you'll need more info on the vehicle, which mog is it, full body type, flat bed or what. A pic would help these experts here too.

Engines and running gear may be just fine, at that age it's the other stuff that dries up, hoses, brake lines, connections, electrical issues, gaskets around doors and windows, rubber mounts and on that snow blower machine, if salt is used in that area I'd check closely for rust issues. Good luck with your find.

 

[mog]

I would also think you'll need more info on the vehicle, which mog is it, full body type, flat bed or what. A pic would help these experts here too.

It is a 406.
The snowblower has a fair amount of value to the right person.
Heck, I'd say go for it. . . I'm good at spending OPM (other people's money)
I'm betting it has a 'second' OM352 in back to run the blower.

Year: 1979
Make: MERCEDES BENZ
Model: UNIMOG SNOWBLOWER 4X4
Mileage: 5331
VIN: 40612110031583
Running Condition: FAIR
Engine: 6 CYL DIESEL
Transmission: 6 SPEED MANUAL
Tires: FAIR
STARTS AND RUNS. SINGLE CAB. SCHMIDT BLOWER. EXTERIOR IN FAIR CONDITION. INTERIOR IN GOOD CONDITION. VINYL FLOORING. TIRES ARE WEATHER CRACKED AND SPARE IS NOT GOOD. NO AIR BAG; NO RADIO; NO A/C; NO TILT WHEEL; NO CRUISE CONTROL; NO POWER WINDOWS; NO POWER LOCK. 6 CYL. DIESEL - UNKNOWN CUBIC INCH.
View attachment 127992

 

[lbarcher]

That looks like one of those Case unimogs. I'm not sure it'd have the "fast" axles in it.

 

[mhiscox]

The best advice in this situation is, think "hobby," not "transportation." It will take a considerable investment of time and money to make everything just right, and even when it's perfect, it will not be a competent highway truck. That short wheelbase makes the truck borderline dangerous, and the truck may well be geared to redline at no more 45 mph.

The tires are expensive, and depending on what is wrong, spare parts can run from almost cheap to very pricey. Also, the common wisdom is that you do not, even as a gift, want to take on a Unimog with anything more than minimal structural rust.

The low price and the likelihood of two engines, or a separate snowblower to sell, mean that you'd be getting a lot of stuff for not much money, so as a messing-around truck, it's a good prospect. And you could make an excellent trail rig out of it, though you'd probably need to trailer it if you were going far. But I think that most would agree that as far as being the basis for an overland truck that would spend much time on pavement, the 406 is one of the least suitable Mogs.

 

[762X39]

The 406 that is for sale should only be treated as a toy or farm implement. If you need a snow blower or a tractor, by all means buy it. If you have to worry about the price or would freak out at spending $2500 for a set of tires don't go there.

 

[mog]

Here is a photo of what the "center carrier bearing under the chassis" Verkstad is talking about.
It might be a 24 speed and the listing agent just does not know what all them-there levers are for.
Click on photos to Enlarge
View attachment 128079


Rear view if this helps
View attachment 128076
BTW - as of time & date of this posting, it is at $5,000 and reserve has been met.

 

[Overlandexpeditionspecial]

The 406 that is for sale should only be treated as a toy or farm implement. If you need a snow blower or a tractor, by all means buy it. If you have to worry about the price or would freak out at spending $2500 for a set of tires don't go there.

I used to drive a Unimog at the local airport (the main reason I took the job), it was only used for snow removal, but still things deteriorate. The transmission lost middle gears, so they had to ship it to the nearest dealer three hours away. I think Estimates came back around 15k between rebuilding the transmission and a new set of tires, they decided to ship it back and put the street sweeper on it and only use the gears that worked. So they are expensive beasts, and slightly disappointing in those configurations.

 

[mkitchen]

I'm going to let it go.

I never thought about it being a low gear vehicle but with it being a snow removal unit, I will bet it is. I also forgot about Case and MB doing units together but that explains the wipers. They are the same ones we had on an old Case backhoe. I think that I am going to let this one go.

I really want to thank those of you who responded. I know nothing about the Unimog except that I drove an old 61 with a gas engine and was impressed with it's ability. Not too impressed with the power of that little six cylinder gas pot though.

A Unimog is not on my must have list but if I could find one at the same time I had the money, I would get it.
Again, Thank You All
Mikey

 

[mkitchen]

Auction is over

Even though I decided not to bid, I checked the end of the auction and the Mog went for $6000. At that price, I don't think is was any kind of real deal unles a fellow had a use for a snow blower. Why is it when I have a very nice Tacoma and a 71 F 250, that I still look at more 4X4's? Am I never satisfied or is this a normal human trait? Anyway thanks to all of you more knowledgeable folks, you kept me from another Mikey folley.
Mikey

 

[mhiscox]

I don't think you'll regret passing this one up. It could have resulted in putting out a lot of money and time to produce a pretty narrrowly-focused rig.

Nothing wrong with wanting a Unimog, though. I've often said that everyone should own one at least once. But knowing the limits of any given truck, and being content with that, seems to be the key to being happy. People who buy a Mog and immediately try to figure out how to make it faster or quieter or nimblier generally end up dissatisfied. A lot of top-notch German engineers worked hard to make them what they are, and if their design goals match yours, get one. But if not, it's perhaps best to move along.

If you end up thinking you might someday want a Mog, it'd probably be worth your while to follow the postings at the Unimog Exchange (http://www.unimog.net/exchange/) for the long-term to get a handle on what's available at different price levels, and also what some of the parts go for.

Thanks for providing the interesting topic.

 

[Chas Stricker]

Mike is dead on. I've known a few folks who saw one and then jumped. Then it was "it is slow".....wrong gears for what they expected. Drive a few types then decide what is best for you. Good Luck,
Chas

 

[Heloflyboy]

Even though I decided not to bid, I checked the end of the auction and the Mog went for $6000. At that price, I don't think is was any kind of real deal unles a fellow had a use for a snow blower. Why is it when I have a very nice Tacoma and a 71 F 250, that I still look at more 4X4's? Am I never satisfied or is this a normal human trait? Anyway thanks to all of you more knowledgeable folks, you kept me from another Mikey folley.
Mikey

Hey Mkey, you are not alone. My wife calls it a fetish. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! They should probably have a group meeting for people like us, but we would all just look at everyone else's stuff and think of having it. Second thought not a good idea. HAHa I have 4 4x4,s and still end up looking at other ones. I recently purchased a 406 diesel unimog from Unimog Exchange and I love it. I had always wanted one. Mine is a tractor model so top speed is about 40mph. Tires are about $550 new. I just picked some up from a guy in So Cal for $100 each. You probably made the right decision passing on that mog if you were not looking for one.

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