When a Dutch earth moving company was in the market for a new, heavy 6×6 truck in the seventies, there was plenty of choice. Truck manufacturers Ginaf, Terberg, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Magirus-Deutz, Tatra and Steyr offered highly capable and durable factory AWD chassis. Both the Magirus-Deutz and the Tatra trucks were always powered by an air cooled diesel engine.
At a recently held, sublime classic truck show I caught a duo of AWD, Magirus-Deutz Eckhaubers. Top tier off-road machinery of yore.
This generation of heavy, conventional Magirus-Deutz trucks and tractors was introduced in 1953 and was built till 1971, so you might call this magnificent 1971 dump truck the final edition model. Well, not entirely, as the production of some specialties continued for a few years.
Eckhauber is actually a generic name, only used for the Magirus-Deutz brand; best to describe as a square lined nose job. This type of model designation, as seen on the old school hood, appeared in 1964.
To be complete, the subject is a Magirus-Deutz 170 D 21 AK: 170 DIN-hp (176, more precisely) – Deutz (the engine) – 21 metric tons GVM (46,300 lbs) – Allrad Kipper (AWD dump truck). Its power comes from a naturally aspirated V6 with a displacement of 8,424 cc, called the F6L413V engine.
The front axle and its suspension.
The rear tandem…
…and a view from down under.
A 1968 brochure of the 230 D 26. The Eckhauber’s headlight units were still sitting on top of the bumper then.
The 6×4 (top image) and 6×6 chassis, as you can see the 230 was powered by a V8. More of the brochure here.
Also present, much to my delight, was a 1975 Eckhauber. This dump truck -imported from Norway- respresents the last generation, as introduced in 1971.
It’s a Magirus-Deutz 232 D 22 AK; 232 DIN-hp (from an 11.3 liter V8) with a GVM-rating of 22 metric tons (22.5, more precisely).
In the mid-seventies, the old truck maker from Ulm was integrated into the newly formed Iveco company. Iveco still offers excellent AWD trucks (4×4, 6×6 and 8×8). And Deutz still offers excellent air cooled diesels.
Related reading, with more background information about the Magirus-Deutz brand:
CC Global: The Magirus-Deutz Eckhauber – The Air Cooled Mercedes L-Series Competitor
Sweet truck. I remember seeing Eckhaubers back in the day. And the Deutz air-cooled diesel engines show up here from time to time. The last time I had concrete pumped, it was a portable unit powered by an air-cooled Deutz.
Farmers I know find the old Deutz farm tractors pretty tough, though hard to find parts for. All were air cooled diesels. They merged with Allis Chalmers, who begat Agco Alliis, who begat Fiat Allis?, then…well, not sure who not sure who owns what now. Always been a big tractor fan since my first Ford 9N, and have thought about picking up a smaller Deutz if one came around nearby. According to thermodynamics, theoretically an air cooled diesel is more efficient than water cooled, though due to the present state of commercial metallurgy/material science they are not as long lasting/durable. Ceramics might rectify that shortcoming if if an engine could be made at a viable price… maybe someday.
We saw I a lot of Magirus-Deutz trucks when last in Europe, way back in the ’70s. My understanding is they were a well respected manufacturer.
Have a look here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cc-global/cc-global-2017-deutz-fahr-agrotron-6215-ttv-with-a-cvt-a-descendant-of-the-worlds-oldest-engine-manufacturer/
Water cooled and Italian owned! my goodness!
Many are not aware that Porsche also made tractors, also air cooled.
I’ve seen a couple of them in the past at tractor shows in Vermont and Pennsylvania:
Another renowned manufacturer that built farm tractors with an air cooled diesel engine was Eicher. Each cylinder of their engines had its own cooling fan.
Eicher Wotan 2.
Such a good-looking truck. Mechanically, a bit anti-social on the ears, ofcourse. They were sold here.
We still have Deutz selling stationary engines here. It uses the old symbol of Magirus-Deutz. Is it too owned by Iveco?
For your consideration, here’s a link to a brief clip of a Magirus-Deutz hauling wool in far outback Queensland, Aus, in 1964. The owner was obviously proud – the bullbar (brushbar in US?) is shaped like the Magirus-Deutz symbol. Enjoy.
http://www.roadtrains.com.au/Videos/ID/155/Here-is-a-Magirus-Deutz-hauling-a-load-of-wool-to-Longreach
Deutz AG (Cologne, Germany) is an engine manufacturer, no Iveco (CNH Industrial) connection. The Iveco, New Holland and Case products are powered by FPT engines (Fiat Powertrain Technologies).
…meanwhile I’ve checked out the video. That’s an Eckhauber alright, as a straightforward 4×2 tractor. The “Ulmer-bullbar” is a nice touch. Magirus-Deutz was best known for their special vehicles, like AWD dump trucks, fire trucks and logging trucks. But they also built many on-road cabover (day- or sleeper cab) 4×2 tractors, powered by the same air cooled engines as used in the mud wrestlers.
This is fun, an Eckhauber submarine, sort of. Heroic music alert!
Deutz ‘Air Diesels’ were offered in a few U.S. trucks in the late 80’s. An in-line 6 cylinder was a factory option in Chevy and GMC medium duty trucks in ’87 and ’88. Diamond-Reo offered Deutz V-8’s for a number of years, though few were built.
Eckhauber is likely derived from “Ecke”, german for Corner and “Haube”, german for Hood. Hood with corners or sharp angles I suppose. “Er wohnt um die Ecke” = He lives around the corner.
Good looking rigs in attractive colors, I recall seeing them (well, similar ones at least) semi-regularly in the 70’s in Germany.
The nicest Hauber name, IMO, is the M.A.N. Diesel Ponton Kurzhauber…
And of course, Magirus-Deutz also had their Rundhaubers!