Family legend

Rolf Riker, son of Karl Riker, particularly remembers one of his first outings. Together with his brother he was in the Unimog, loaded with fresh hay, on a sunny afternoon, driving over rough ground. Suddenly everything happened very quickly: the slope became steeper, the wheels slipped, and in the next moment they ended up in the ditch. "Serves us right — none of us could find the handbrake," Rolf Riker can laugh about it today. It's a good thing the rugged Unimog can take something like that in its stride.

For the Riker children the Unimog was more than just a vehicle, Rolf Riker reports. That little accident while fetching hay was just one of many adventures the brothers experienced with the all‑rounder. "Even when we ended up in the ditch, the Unimog came through unscathed and we learned our lesson. For us, growing up with the Unimog was a big event."

The post-war period was hard; vehicles were scarce. "After the war, it was unimaginable to own a car," recalls Rolf Riker. And yet his father, Karl Riker, took the plunge. The Unimog, with its 25 hp, portal axle and robust, simple construction, was the perfect answer to the challenges of farming. A workhorse and a loyal companion.

“In off-road terrain and even in snow the Unimog was unbeatable,” says Rolf Riker. “There was nothing it couldn’t manage.” Whether in deep snow, on rough fields or during everyday work, the Unimog always brought the family safely to its destination. The family used the first model into the 1960s. Then Rolf Riker bought his own universal engine unit. But the first Unimog remained unforgettable.

Since its first deliveries in 1949, the present-day Daimler Trucks AG has put more than 375,000 vehicles on the road. With models such as the Unimog U 219 to U 535, the all-rounder has proven itself across a wide range of industries – from the fire service and the construction industry to agriculture and forestry. With around 1,000 possible applications, the Unimog still remains at the forefront of what is technically possible. And service lives of more than 25 years are not uncommon.

Today there are two model series: the versatile Unimog implement carrier, for example for municipal use and the construction industry, and the highly off-road-capable Unimog for extreme operations off paved roads. Both series remain true to their heritage – with all-wheel drive, portal axles and mounting options at the front and rear.

The Riker family's memories of their first Unimog are still vivid today and stand as representative of the many stories the all-rounder has written worldwide.

And the Unimog is thus not only a technical masterpiece, but also a piece of history that has shaped generations – and will surely continue to do so in the future. Something truly special.