Swiss Military Vehicle Ideal For Farm Use

2006 - Volume #30, Issue #5, Page #17

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We think it's the best 4-WD vehicle in the world," say Rue Ferguson and his partner Craig Sanders, San Antonio, Texas, about the "Pinzgauer" military vehicle they recently began importing from Switzerland.
  The Pinzgauer is considerably taller than a Jeep, but about the same width and length. Three different models are available: a 4-WD soft top model that seats 10; a 4-WD hard top model that seats five; and a 6-WD model that seats 14 and is equipped with seats that run lengthwise. On soft top models the seats can be folded up to form a flatbed for cargo hauling."
  The 4-WD models are 13 1/2 ft. long and the 6-WD model 18 ft. long. All models are 6 1/2 to 7 ft. tall.
  The vehicles Ferguson and Sanders import are all used models built from 1972 to 1978. Most have 10,000 to 70,000 miles on them.
  Power is provided by an air-cooled, 4-cyl., 90 hp Volkswagen-designed gas engine, with a 5-speed manual transmission with high and low ranges and shift-on-the-go 4-WD. Each wheel has its own drive axle to provide true 4-WD. The machine is street legal and has a top speed of 65 mph. Other features include independent suspension at each wheel and 18 in. of ground clearance. There's also a fold-down windshield and removable cab windows, so if the weather turns hot you can just loosen a couple of bolts and fold the windshield forward out of the way.
  "The Pinzgauer is a versatile machine at a relatively low price. Prices start at $12,500. For that you get a street legal vehicle with quick acceleration, a smooth ride, and a big 2,200-lb. payload," says Ferguson. "These vehicles are much more capable than a Kawasaki Mule or Polaris Ranger, and they're built better. Yet they don't cost much more than those vehicles."
  According to Ferguson, Pinzgauer vehicles have to be at least 25 years old to get into the U.S. because they have no anti-lock brakes, air bags, or emission controls. "We get the vehicles from the Swiss military which takes immaculate care of them. We're willing to repaint, rebuild, or customize the vehicles in any way that the customer wants which might include adding steps, receiver hitches, towbars, and so forth."
  The engine is built in sections, with all 4 cylinders on the same side, so if a piston rod goes bad or something happens to any cylinder, you can just unbolt that section and slide it out of the engine, then slide a new section back in.
  What about parts? No problem, says Ferguson. "Even though these vehicles are at least 25 years old, the new ones being built today have the same basic design. Several companies in the U.S. carry parts. We deal with all of them."
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rue Ferguson, Jr., 8615 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio, Texas 78217 (ph 210 827-2104; rugeleyjr@yahoo.com; www. texaspinz gauer.com).

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Swiss Military Vehicle Ideal For Farm Use TRUCKS New Trucks 30-5-17 We think it's the best 4-WD vehicle in the world," say Rue Ferguson and his partner Craig Sanders, San Antonio, Texas, about the "Pinzgauer" military vehicle they recently began importing from Switzerland. The Pinzgauer is considerably taller than a Jeep, but about the same width and length. Three different models are available: a 4-WD soft top model that seats 10; a 4-WD hard top model that seats five; and a 6-WD model that seats 14 and is equipped with seats that run lengthwise. On soft top models the seats can be folded up to form a flatbed for cargo hauling." The 4-WD models are 13 1/2 ft. long and the 6-WD model 18 ft. long. All models are 6 1/2 to 7 ft. tall. The vehicles Ferguson and Sanders import are all used models built from 1972 to 1978. Most have 10,000 to 70,000 miles on them. Power is provided by an air-cooled, 4-cyl., 90 hp Volkswagen-designed gas engine, with a 5-speed manual transmission with high and low ranges and shift-on-the-go 4-WD. Each wheel has its own drive axle to provide true 4-WD. The machine is street legal and has a top speed of 65 mph. Other features include independent suspension at each wheel and 18 in. of ground clearance. There's also a fold-down windshield and removable cab windows, so if the weather turns hot you can just loosen a couple of bolts and fold the windshield forward out of the way. "The Pinzgauer is a versatile machine at a relatively low price. Prices start at $12,500. For that you get a street legal vehicle with quick acceleration, a smooth ride, and a big 2,200-lb. payload," says Ferguson. "These vehicles are much more capable than a Kawasaki Mule or Polaris Ranger, and they're built better. Yet they don't cost much more than those vehicles." According to Ferguson, Pinzgauer vehicles have to be at least 25 years old to get into the U.S. because they have no anti-lock brakes, air bags, or emission controls. "We get the vehicles from the Swiss military which takes immaculate care of them. We're willing to repaint, rebuild, or customize the vehicles in any way that the customer wants which might include adding steps, receiver hitches, towbars, and so forth." The engine is built in sections, with all 4 cylinders on the same side, so if a piston rod goes bad or something happens to any cylinder, you can just unbolt that section and slide it out of the engine, then slide a new section back in. What about parts? No problem, says Ferguson. "Even though these vehicles are at least 25 years old, the new ones being built today have the same basic design. Several companies in the U.S. carry parts. We deal with all of them." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rue Ferguson, Jr., 8615 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio, Texas 78217 (ph 210 827-2104; rugeleyjr@yahoo.com; www. texaspinz gauer.com).

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