These Amazing Mercedes-Benz Unimog Restomods Are Now Available in the U.S.
Couch Off-Road Engineering will import and build you a modernized Mercedes-Benz Unimog – for a price, of course.
Over the years, the Mercedes-Benz Unimog has garnered a reputation for being one of the coolest vehicles on earth, a massive machine that is incredibly capable off-road. The Unimog dates back to the late 1940s and is still in production today, serving a number of workhorse roles doing everything from farming to construction to serving in the military, but in recent years, more and more people are using them for off-roading purposes and even entering them in races like the Dakar Rally. However, those in the U.S. that want to buy a Mercedes-Benz Unimog typically have to either import one or find one that has already been imported, though a company called Couch Off-Road Engineering now has a better solution – turnkey restomods with beefed-up drivetrains one can now buy in the U.S.
The owner of Couch Off-Road Engineering – Jay Couch – owns more than 50 Unimogs himself, and over the years, has perfected his craft of rebuilding older models with more modern features, making them a vehicle that one can actually drive not only out in the woods, but also on public roads. This is notable because old Unimogs lacked greatly in terms of power, to the point where they’re just not feasible in these sorts of everyday situations thanks to their modest 45 mph top speed.
That’s precisely where Couch’s N.O.R.A.D. (Nomadic Off-Road Adventure Design) Unimog comes into play – 25+ year-old vehicles that are imported into the U.S. and then treated to a full-blown redo. That process includes beefing up the original inline-six diesel powerplant and lifting output from 150 horsepower to 320 – plus a healthy 800 pound-feet of torque – and coupling it with a unique gearbox that has a total of 32 speeds, enabling it to hit 80 mph at the top end.
Underneath, this gussied-up Mercedes-Benz Unimog utilizes its original portal axles, along with locking differentials, a central tire inflation system, and either 42- or 46-inch tires mounted on beadlock wheels. Couch even adds air conditioning to the mix to make this a more comfy cruiser, but its mechanical simplicity and lack of modern computerized components figures to make it dead reliable and simple to work on, too.
Available in two- or four-door configurations, Couch’s Unimogs aren’t exactly cheap, as one might imagine, with a price tag of around $385,000, or as much as $600,000 if you want to build a full-blown overlanding rig with a camper box out back. However, given how amazingly capable and downright cool these things are, they certainly seem worth that lofty asking price.
Photos: Couch Off-Road Engineering
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