Are all the surplus Swiss Pinzgauers gone?

pinzwheeling · Post by **pinzwheeling** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:58 am

Profpinz wrote:The above figure of 17,953 relates to the total number of Pinzgauers produced by SDP between 1967 and 1984.
From information in the mentioned book, we can further split that total production figure into the number of 710 and 712 vehicles produced between 1978 and 1985 (for some reason, they don't split version numbers prior to 1978)

1978 - 1984
710's produced = 4178
712's produced = 3587

It's interesting to note that in the early years the production (1978, 79 etc) they made aproximately 2.5 times more 4X4's than 6X6's, but in the final years of the air-cooled range this number was pretty much reversed.
In 1984 they made 185 X 710's and 467 X 712's and in 1985 that number was 90 X 710's and 326 X 712's.

OK, who has any idea of how many are in the US? If anyone has that info, or even better, a breakdown of types, it would be useful to me.

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:34 pm

There is no way to know the definitive number of Pinzgauers in the US. There have been too many different importers, from dealers and individuals, and there is no standardized registration from state to state. I've heard of DMVs registering them as Steyr, Puch, Mercedes , Jeep and "other".... plus some other manufacturers that I don't remember at the present. But a couple years back, guesstimate was at 3000.

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:39 pm

I got mine!

-'73 710M #P1 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P2 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P3 ("pinz-cat")

Check 'em out! http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff301/Ttown8750/

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:23 pm

-'73 710M #P1 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P2 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P3 ("pinz-cat")

If you had brought 712's you could have got away with only TWO vehicles and still had the same number of tyres!

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:31 pm

Profpinz wrote:
-'73 710M #P1 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P2 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P3 ("pinz-cat")
If you had brought 712's you could have got away with only TWO vehicles and still had the same number of tyres!

The longer 712 would not work as well for my needs. First of all, the 710 handles the tight, narrow switchbacks MUCH better. Also, more capacity means that the people in the far back wouldn't hear what the guide was saying.

todds112 · Post by **todds112** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:00 pm

Twin Pinzies wrote:
Profpinz wrote:
-'73 710M #P1 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P2 (tour rig)
-'74 710M #P3 ("pinz-cat")
If you had brought 712's you could have got away with only TWO vehicles and still had the same number of tyres!
The longer 712 would not work as well for my needs. First of all, the 710 handles the tight, narrow switchbacks MUCH better. Also, more capacity means that the people in the far back wouldn't hear what the guide was saying.

Gotta admit Black Bear Road is the ONE place I'ld prefer a 710 over a 712.

EuroPinz · Post by **EuroPinz** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:52 am

When I checked last week - there was 1 left for sale. This one though was in pretty bad shape, which in fact doesn't matter for the Russians buyers. After that, there is officially no more left in the Swiss armee, except for those that were forgotten in the paperwork and will slowly re-appear. An estimated 20 or a bit more are guessed to be still in the hands of the Swiss armee and they will come up for sale as they find them back in their inventory. The Swiss armee, like any other armee has lost stuff from their inventory and finally found it back. From now on, the only ones available would be from the Austrian armee - but their stock is also dwindeling. Right now, we are allready noticing that their value is increasing - slowly but steadily. In Austria just like in the USA, the Pinzgauer needs to be from 1976 or prior in order to be allowed to be registered. Hence the prices are going up for all models prior to 1976.

Regards,

Jacques

IA712 · Post by **IA712** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:17 am

Thanks for the information Jacques. For most states in the US the "easy" registration cutoff date keeps moving forward as the DOT regulations are different for "antique" vehicles that are more than 25 years old at time of importation. California has their own cutoff date. I have a Swiss Army 1982 (June) 712 AMB on its way over right now.

The picture of your flatbed 712 with the wood deck has always interested me. I found more pictures of the vehicle over on Rob's Pinzgauer Forum but I can't read German. I am trying to design a good method of making a wood stake bed that can be easily removed from the 712 to interchange with the ambulance box when needed. How did you fasten the wood to the truck? Thanks for any help with this.
Lloyd

EuroPinz · Post by **EuroPinz** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:26 am

You're right about the cutoff dates being different, but that hasn't stop from people buying any Pinzgauer available. I myself have the 1975 Pinzgauer 712 AMB (with wooden deck) and in june this year bought myself another 712 AMB from 1983, only to be able to get one of the last ones available. This one has only documented 28,540 Km (+/- 17,850 miles)
The wooden deck. That was easy. I've cut 4 beams (2x6) and cut them to fit inside the bed but a but deeper (by 2 inches) in the middle section. Kind of like a "T" shape. 1 beam is on the very front (so it can't slide forwards) and 1 beam is on the very back (so it can't slide backwards) the 2 others are equally distant from each other in the middle. After that I fastened 2x4 with wooden screws to the beams underneath. Nothing is holding it down since the beams inside (2x6) are cut tight. It lifts easily out and I have never lost it even going offroad. I am going to take it off this weekend and I'll take a few pics to post.

Regards,

Jacques

IA712 · Post by **IA712** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:19 am

That helps a lot - I guess I was trying to make it more difficult than it needed to be. Thanks,
Lloyd