Not a Unimog, but it is German...East German that is.

[AmericanIFA]

Brand new to this forum and I can't tell you all how excited I am to find it. First my vehicle..IFA W50. It is one of three that I know of here in the U.S. If anybody knows anybody else that has one, let me know. I actually found a two year old post here referencing my truck when the guy I bought it from put it on ebay. I know it's not a Unimog but I didn't know where else to post here.

I knew there had to be more people out there with the same interest and low and behold while doing a google for 16 x 20 michelin zxl's I found this site.

I will post some pics here but if you want, you can check out www.ifaw50.com and click on the link 1982 ifa. There are some pics there.

For those who don't know, IFA is a Unimog on steroids of sorts. People who don't know what it is always mistake it for a Mog, but I politely correct the error.

Planning on outfitting it this year and doing some maintenance so I can start putting it through it's paces.

I am like a kid in a candy store and am so frickin' excited to scan the posts for new ideas. Man there are some incredible rigs here. Look forward to sharing.:victory:

Yes, that is a hatch over the passenger seat with a re-enactor and a machine gun.

 

[oonimog]

Cool truck. I used to see them around Germany while I was living there.
What makes you say that it's a Unimog on steroids?

 

[Nadir_E]

Looks like a GAZ 66 - separated at birth?

 

[DEF-110]

IFA-W50 It is more than GAZ-66

 

[AmericanIFA]

Unimogs , I can dream can't I?

Cool truck. I used to see them around Germany while I was living there.
What makes you say that it's a Unimog on steroids?

The only other operating IFA here in the states is owned by a guy with a Unimog and when he parks them together, the IFA towers over the Mog. Didn't mean to offend. I would LOVE to add a Unimog to my collection (of one).

 

[gjackson]

Interested in learning more about these trucks. Here are some pics of one we saw in Zambia back in 2003.

Love the Africa trucks section of your web site.

cheers

 

[AmericanIFA]

What do you want to know?

Interested in learning more about these trucks. Here are some pics of one we saw in Zambia back in 2003.

Love the Africa trucks section of your web site.

cheers

That website is not mine, it was made by Jeff who owns the other operating IFA here in the states. His is for sale but it is pretty pricey. He actually used to own mine.

thanks for the pics. I love to see what others have done with the IFA. I really want one of those containers for my truck, but right now I am stuck with coming up with an alternative. (Europeans? can you help me out?)

What do you want to know? I can share with you what I know. I learn something new about my truck on a weekly basis.

Made in East Germany, Company was sold to Mercedes a while back. Stopped production (I think) in either 1989 or 1990.
Produced half a million and exported 70%. Most to Africa, south America.
-Central tire inflation system
-4 Cylinder diesel/multifuel 125 hp.
-max speed 52 Mph.
-Water fording air intake switch.
-Air over Hydraulic brakes.
-Weight empty about 10000 lbs.
-NOT a Cabover. (Engine is in the cab, but cab doesn't pull off.)
-Very durable vehicles.
-Load sensitive braking system.
-Can find some with crew cabs!
-Very loud. Need ear protection for extended trips. Working on quieting the cabin.
-on the fly 4x4 , no locking hubs
-geared Very low. built for power not speed.
-my butt is 5'6" from the ground when driving.
-Air Filter is an oil soaked donut shaped thing.
-Built in Gun Racks for AK 47.

The IFA is definitely function over form. It is meant to do basically one thing.
Get you there.

My wife totaled our Land Rover, and a week later I blew a head gasket on my Cherokee. This became a daily driver for me for about two weeks until we rectified our transportation situation.

It was like driving a rock star around. Came out of Wal mart and there were three young guys in 4x4's ogling and taking pictures with their camera phones. Another time working at a convention center and after a music concert, a group of intoxicated 20 somethings were taking pictures next to it in the parking lot. I happened on them and they asked if they could get in. I am one to never turn down the opportunity to let a young lady in a mini skirt climb into my truck. :Wow1:

Every time I take it out I ALWAYS get at least one question from the curious. It really is alot of fun to own one of these.

 

[ntsqd]

Is the 'castellation' in the center of the front wheels just a step into the cab, or does it serve some other function? An interesting design detail no matter what it does.

There is a very good discussion here about how to mount boxes to frames of this type of truck. If you're not thinking to use the existing bed for the basis of the box I'd compare those ideas to how your existing bed is mounted.

 

[DEF-110]

And what machine gun at you? And at us here the such!

 

[oonimog]

No offense taken at all, as I said, I think they're cool trucks (any BIG 4x4, 6x6, etc is cool) Just curious. I really like the FRP shelter on the white, red, and black truck pictured above, they're very robust. I looked into getting one but it was too long for my needs.

 

[AmericanIFA]

Is the 'castellation' in the center of the front wheels just a step into the cab, or does it serve some other function? An interesting design detail no matter what it does.

Yes, that is exactly what it is for. That is the one thing that most take notice of. People marvel at how my 6 year old monkeys his way in to the cab. He loves to show his friends how the hatch pops open.

I am going to look for those posts about the boxes.

I tooled with the idea of using the bed as the foundation and actually started a basic construction project. The bed is a little beat up and some of the stansions that I was using for the base boards weren't aligning and throwing the whole design off. I really want one of those European containers. They are designed to fit on the back of IFA's with little or no modification. But since there really isn't an outlet here in the states, I have been reduced to looking for van bodies.

Cheers.

 

[Lynn]

I really want one of those European containers. They are designed to fit on the back of IFA's with little or no modification. But since there really isn't an outlet here in the states, I have been reduced to looking for van bodies.

Cheers.

Just a thought, but there are a lot of pix on here where guys have mounted camp trailers on the back of a truck. Some look good, some not so much.

Just a thought.

 

[78Bronco]

Looks to be too tall IMO. The COG must be ver high when there is a camper on the back. Still a cool vehicle.

Is the diesel air cooled or liquid cooled?

 

[AmericanIFA]

Plunking a camper on the back was my first thought, but don't think a commercially sided camper was viable. First tree branch I met up with would most likely give me an unintended badge of honor.

Just being here in this forum and taking a look at somethings people have done have kind of re lit the fire to get this project under way. I am back to plan A and have found some inspiration and know exactly what I am going to do with my build.

About it being tall. Yes, it is very big, I guess that is why it's nickname is the Overcompensator.

 

[DEF-110]

Photos of interiors are?