Dump-Body Doka: 1980 Mercedes-Benz Unimog 416





























A wise man once said that when the apocalypse finally hits Earth, the only things that are going to be left are cockroaches and Dodge Power Wagons. While that sounds fine and dandy, that wise man forgot about one other vehicle: Mercedes-Benz's Unimog. Much like Dodge's Power Wagon, one cannot kill a Unimog, a vehicle about as bulletproof as Chrysler's Slant Six. This Unimog is a 1980 416 Doka model, and looks utterly fantastic. Find it here on eBay in New Glarus, Wisconsin, with a Buy-It-Now price of $75,000. 



























Though the original Unimog was introduced in 1946 as a prototype (production began in 1947, and Mercedes-Benz took over production in 1951), the Doka (short for Doppelkabine, which is German for "double cabin") was introduced in 1974 and produced until 1986. During its 12-year production, 353 Dokas were built. This Doka is a 1980 model, and features a cool and desirable three-way hydraulic dump body. This Doka additionally features both mechanical and hydraulic power take-off units. In layman's terms, this means that the operator can add accessories to transmogrify this Unimog into a tractor, a well-digger, or just about anything a person can envision. Cosmetics appear to be in decent condition (with the exception of the dump body, which has light surface rust on some of the usual wear and tear areas), and those massive Continental tires (said to cost $1,500 apiece new) combined with the steel wheels makes for one burly, aggressive-looking Doka.
 Am I the only one who gets aggravated when a seller does not post a picture of the entire engine? Unfortunately, the seller must have forgot to get a full-view picture of the OM 366 LA turbodiesel six, but judging from this view, the turbodiesel six appears to be in great cosmetic shape. Featuring a 5.7-liter turbodiesel rated at 110 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, this Doka should not only tackle any terrain, it should dominate it. Backed by a six-speed manual transmission and spinning a two-speed transfer case, this Doka features dual batteries (for 24 volts), a front-mounted winch, and locking differentials. To summarize, this Doka is like the Terminator: it can't be killed. It won't be killed.



































Much like any living being roaming this planet, this Doka has a flaw: its seats. The interior was redone by the previous winery-operating owner, at which time red, black and carbon fiber effect vinyl buckets were fitted. Personally, I think  that these seats would  be better suited to a sand rail or Baja Bug. I would either have the seats redone in all black or fit the original seats (which are included with the sale) back in. Also noted is the full roll cage,  which looks to be nicely fabricated, even though it’s a bit overdone with the big windshield bars. Padding would be a nice safety addition, especially given the risk of a person doming his or her head off of the roll bar. A rare tachometer is also a nice addition, and I like the overall function emphasis. Though a bit expensive, this is a really nice Doka, and I would do a bit of haggling with the seller and, once bought, take this to the desert for some dune-conquering. What are your thoughts on this rare dump-body Doka?
Location: New Glarus, WI 53574, USA

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