BOOKS & MORE: Everything about the Pinzgauer

After his book about the Steyr-Puch Haflinger, Walter Blasi now presents a richly illustrated documentation about its big brother, the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer of the Austrian Armed Forces. As a traditional association, we are particularly pleased to continue our book series on highlights of Austrian military automotive history with this second work. If the Haflinger has already become a cult vehicle, its successor has secured a cult status even more. The Pinzgauer can rightly be called the best off-road vehicle in the world. Not for nothing did this top product of Austrian engineering also enjoy great popularity internationally. The demand from numerous interested parties, as well as from military forces from various countries, for a larger off-road vehicle with higher payload and performance prompted the Graz-based company to start the series development of this project in 1964. Preliminary designs had already been developed in 1962, and by the end of 1965, the first prototypes could be put into testing.

Essentially, two versions can be distinguished: a 4x4 and a 6x6 version, which were adapted for various tasks. For many years, a gasoline engine was used, which was later replaced by a diesel engine. The Austrian Armed Forces as well as the Swiss Army were supplied with several thousand units of the Pinzgauer. After nearly 30 years of production and 24,000 vehicles built, production was discontinued in Graz in 2000.

"The Steyr-Puch Pizgauer of the Austrian Armed Forces" by Walter Blasi, 120 pages, richly illustrated, can be purchased directly HERE from the publisher. It costs 24.90 + shipping.