MERCEDES-BENZ - LP 1620 - Blue & Red 1965
| Product Code:
| 439 034320 |
| Manufacturer:
| Minichamps |
| Category: |
Truck |
| Scale:
| 1:43 |
At the 1963 Frankfurt International Car Show, Daimler-Benz announced a new generation of heavy weight forward-control trucks called LP 1620. This 16 ton truck showed a modern cubic design. Suddenly, the predecessors dating back to the early 50s looked quite old-fashioned. The almost square new cabin consequently used the available space. The generous use of glass for windscreen and side windows gave the drivers an outstanding road view was a great advantage in the steadily rising traffic. Now, entering the cabin was much more comfortable due to wider steps and once sitting in his new seat the driver had a clear view at the instrument panel. An upholstered dashboard was only one detail that increased passive safety. The well-known 200 hp OM 326 diesel engine now protruded much less into the cabin increasing inner space a lot. Now it was easily possible to climb from one side to the other. Altogether drivers were rather pleased with this new truck.
Also, the truck owners had only few reasons to stick to the predecessor. Besides the benefits for the driver, the planners at Daimler-Benz had also thought about easier maintenance when they designed the cubic cabin as it was called soon after its introduction. Even if it was still fixed to the chassis by rubber dampers (it was only in 1969 that Daimler-Benz introduced its first tipping cabin as one of the last truck builders) there were lids all 'round to ease access to the engine compartment. Mechanics and drivers soon nicknamed it Advent calendar or rat trap.
The Mercedes-Benz LP 1620 was steadily improved as time went on and the range was diversified with articulated tractors, tippers and six-wheelers. So, in 1965 appeared a new cabin lengthened by 20 cm to allow for two beds to be installed behind the seats. This option was much awaited by the then still common twin crews as they did not need to rebuild their beds every night. In 1967, the LP 1623 featuring a new OM 355 engine with 230 hp was introduced to comply with the new German traffic rule allowing 6 hp per tonne gross weight. As 38 tonnes were the top weight allowed in Germany at that time the minimum power output needed was 228 hp.
Two years later the LP 1624 was the next step with 240 hp, but the rest of the truck remained nearly the same. By then this truck series had reached its climax as the LP 1632 with tipping cabin and a 320 hp V10 engine was introduced at the same time. But this is another story. The last LP 1624 trucks were sold in Germany in 1972, but the export version LP 1924 would go on for three more years.
BLUE and RED
(This truck with canvas-style covered tray can be matched to a separate three-axle trailer, product 439 904020
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