Steyr-Puch Haflinger

Production period:	1959 to1974
Class :	Off road
Body versions :	Various ,Military
Engines:	Gasoline 643 cc

The Steyr-Puch Haflinger is a small, light off-road vehicle with all-wheel drive of the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG . It was produced from 1959 to 1974 and supplied primarily as a military vehicle to the Austrian Armed Forces and to the Swiss Army , but also built in various civilian versions. The Haflinger was developed especially for use in the mountains.

History 

The Steyr-Puch "Haflinger", named after the famous mountain horse breed of the same name , is the result of discussions during a demonstration of motorcycles for the Austrian Armed Forces . The construction was carried out by Erich Ledwinka , the son of the important automobile and longtime Tatra chief designer Hans Ledwinka . The manufacturer's internal designation is AP 700 (short wheelbase) or AP 703 (long wheelbase). The letter combination stands for "four-wheel platform".

The Haflinger depending on the wheelbase of about 2.85 and 3.15 meters long, 1.35 meters wide .Has a rear, air-cooled two-cylinder - piston engine with 643 cc displacement and initially 22 and later 24 and last 27 PS  , It has a central tube frame similar to the Tatra trucks and weighs about 600 kg empty, has a payload of about 500 kg and a trailer load of about 350 kg and can be equipped with various bodies. As a municipal vehicle with reinforced chassis and frame and brake booster payload is around 1200 kg.

The Haflinger proved to be a surprising success and was manufactured in different variants. In addition to the military versions for Switzerland , Austria , Sweden , Indonesia and Australia, there were also different models in the civil sector. These include z. As the "Municipal Haflinger" (mostly with the solid polyester - Cab), the "Tropical Haflinger" with an additional cyclone - air filter on the snout or the countries executions in accordance with the respective regulations of other countries, such as the "Pathfinder" with "frog eyes" (Sealed Beam headlamps ) for the US , the "Steyr-Puch 700AP" called Italy version with "croissant flashers " and the right-hand drive for Great Britain . In addition, Haflinger were also supplied in special versions to the fire brigade and mountain rescue .

Despite the small dimensions of the Haflinger was used by some forces as a weapons platform. The Austrian Armed Forces used him as a mount for a heavy Browning M2 - MG or a recoilless gun of the type M18. The armies of Switzerland and Sweden equipped him in part with an unusual armament, six forward and another eight -watch anti-tank missiles of the type "Bantam" from Bofors .

Military and off-road fans appreciate the four-wheel drive vehicle as extremely off-road. The Haflinger has two separate differential locks and an independent suspension on bifurcated portal - swing half axles with coil springs all around, so that even with small wheel size results in a large ground clearance. Each half-axle has about 25 cm of freedom of movement, the final translation takes place in the hubs .

Disadvantage of the vehicle, however, is the comparatively low engine power and the associated low maximum speed of 75, 64, 58 or even only 52 km / h (depending on the transmission and axle ratio), so that it is less suitable for longer distances, which is why lovers their Haflinger Today with longer journeys to meetings etc. prefer to transport with trailers or small trucks.

The "big brother" of the Haflinger, which appears from the outside at first glance like an enlarged version of this, was later marketed under the name Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer . The Pinzgauer was (and still is) optionally also available with three driven axles with the drive formula 6x6 and is still one of the most off-road vehicles ever.

An "H2", ie a "Haflinger 2" was planned as a successor of the small SUV, but was not realized in the originally planned conception. However, this eventually became the Puch G or the identically constructed Mercedes-Benz G-Class , which is still produced today in the Magna factory in Graz .

From Steyr-Puch Haflinger in the years 1959 to 1974 a total of 16,647 vehicles of all variants were produced.

Special advantages of the vehicle include:Low center of gravity due to the low central tube chassis and the lack of a top body construction.Generous slope angles at the front and rear as well as a favorable ramp angle in the middle, which facilitates the crossing of obstacles.The two separate differential locks allow progress of the vehicle even if only a single wheel traction has,The gantry axles lead to an axle center above the wheel center, which increases ground clearance without relying on larger wheels.The suspension is completely independent on all four wheels and offers maximum traction with maximum traction.

Technical specifications

• Drive:all-wheel drive
• Engine cooing:air-cooled
• Engine Type: two-cylinder 643 cc
• Chassis:reinforced tube frame
• weight: 600 kg
• Series 1: 4-speed gearbox (original model)
• Series 2: 5-speed gearbox with crawler gear and higher engine power, on request with longer wheelbase
• Polycab: on request, delivery with a fully enclosed fiberglass cab
• Schneewiesel: The wheel drive was replaced by two small crawler tracks for use on snow and ice , manufactured by the engineering company Kahlbacher , a total of 81 units were built.
• Swiss military: hybrid version made up of elements of the 1st and 2nd series as well as special bumpers , tarpaulin covers and other details
• USA Version: "Pathfinder" model with "bugeye" sealed beam headlights and other modifications in accordance with US regulations