Ernest Hemingway often said there are only 3 real sports: Bullfighting, Motor Racing, and Mountain Climbing. No matter what you believe, conquering a mountain is a daunting test of humans and their machines. For 70 years it has been the workhorse of the brand, and to celebrate in style the Mercedes Unimog climbed the world’s highest volcano.
Given the mountain’s propensity for exploding, it was named Ojos del Salado. The eyes of salt are toxic lakes around the summit, just another hazard aside from the altitude of 22,615 feet. In order to measure the seismic activity, Chilean geologists needed to deliver three new emergency transponders on the way to the top.
Mercedes Shows Off New Unimogs
Since 1948, Mercedes has sold Unimogs to armies, Arnold, and anyone who needed the ultimate utility truck. To prove its abilities, once the team delivered the equipment, they pushed on to reach a new world record. Both trucks topped out at 21,961 feet without breaking a sweat.
Because it is so tough, dealers demanded a softer version and the G-Wagen was launched in 1979. Click the button above to find yours, and stay with us for all your Mercedes news.
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