Trucking milestones: 1978 – an MB trac gives its all

Series: Trucking milestones

Off-road extremes.

Need to pull tree trunks through the deepest mud? No problem for the MB trac 65/70 with “Karajan” at the wheel.

Powerful and manoeuvrable: in those days, the MB trac 65/70 belonging to the Jachenau forestry administration moved more than 8,000 m3 of wood per year.


The vehicle has dug itself deep into the mud – you can barely see the wheels. But the snow-covered tree trunks, which are being pulled from the coniferous forest by brute force, are in full view. It is the year 1978. The vehicle that is being tested to its limits is an MB trac 65/70 – one of the first all-wheel tractors from Mercedes-Benz, which was supplied to customers from 1973.



This MB trac of the first series was used by the forestry administration of the municipality of Jachenau in Upper Bavaria, which is still independent to this day. Thoroughly unusual: the action pictures, which were then printed in Transport magazine, were taken by an administration employee. According to the Transport report, there was great enthusiasm at the time about the performance of the hauler. The man at the wheel was issued with a grade-A report: “The driver manages his MB trac just as skilfully as Karajan his conductor’s baton.”

The long-time favourite powerhouse.

The powerhouse for agriculture and forestry won fans further afield way beyond the 1970s: over the course of the years, there were four series and numerous models, one of which was launched on the market as late as 1990. The last MB trac left the production line on 17 December 1991 in Gaggenau. However, the story of the all-wheel tractor continues: there are many of them in use to this day, lovingly maintained – and driven through deep mud, too.


Forays in the forest : the MB trac – also seen here as the MB trac 1300, built from 1976 – was reliable even in the most extreme conditions.
Forays in the forest : the MB trac – also seen here as the MB trac 1300, built from 1976 – was reliable even in the most extreme conditions.

Fotos: Daimler

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