OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 09, 2009
- Easy maneuverability
- High payload capacity
- A bestseller from the very beginning
It appeared as if customers had been waiting for it: The LP 608 was introduced in January 1965 and immediately conquered the segment of 6.5 ton trucks which could be driven with a non-hgv license. During the first two years, the new cab-over-engine vehicle was to achieve a 45 percent market share with more than 10,000 units produced.
1965: A first in more ways than one
Its first appearance from January 20 until 31 at the Brussels Motor Show was a three-fold premiere. For a start, the new plant in Wörth on the River Rhine had taken up production of the preproduction series of this vehicle. The LP 608 had the honor of being the first truck to leave the truck assembly hall in Wörth, officially opened on
July 14, 1965.
Secondly, the appearance of the LP 608 meant that Daimler-Benz was now present in a segment that had been neglected up till this point, and in 1965 took an important step toward becoming a full-line manufacturer providing modern cab-over-engine trucks from the light-duty through to the heavy-duty class. Furthermore, with its new four-cylinder OM 314, the LP 608 was one of the first Mercedes-Benz trucks to bid farewell to the pre-chamber combustion principle, opting for direct injection instead.
Advanced engine technology on a tried-and-tested basis
The basic features of this particularly lightweight 3.8 liter engine traced back to the legendary post-war six-cylinder OM 312, which the plant had converted from
pre-chamber combustion to direct injection with an unaltered displacement (4.6 liters) in 1964. The OM 312, of which a first turbocharged version (OM 312 A) had been launched as early as 1954, became the OM 352 through the changeover to modern and fuel-efficient direct injection.
Boasting the most favorable power-to-weight ratio in its day and age, this engine had already proved itself in the trucks of the economic miracle period for 15 years and rapidly acquired international acclaim. Large numbers of the six-cylinder had come off production lines in Argentina, Brazil and India for quite some time when the plant started parallel production of the new four-cylinder OM 314. It was the first Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder engine with direct injection and had the same bore and stroke as its big brother, the OM 352 – 97 x 128 millimeters in both cases.
Many different versions through to semitrailer tractors
Initially the four-cylinder with direct injection had an output of 59 kW, enabling this easily maneuverable cab-over-engine truck, which was designed for urban and short-radius distribution, to move nimbly through traffic. For the time being, this output was retained when a first 7.5 ton truck appeared in the form of the LP 808 in 1967. The LPS 608 made a name for itself with four different wheelbase lengths for pickups, dump trucks and even semitrailer tractors, conquering a 45 percent market share in its class.
The new LP 808 7.5 ton truck differed from the original LP 608 in terms of its payload: 4.5 as opposed to 3.5 tons. This was made possible by a reinforced chassis and suspension and adjusted tires. Output was increased to 63 kW from 1969. In 1970, two particularly powerful little fellows, named LP 811 and LP 913 and reverting to the six-cylinder OM 352, were introduced but otherwise were in keeping with the basic model.
Low entry, suited to short-radius distribution
In terms of their external appearance, they were modeled on the large cubic cab that Daimler-Benz had already introduced to the heavy-duty class in 1963. Yet they had a particularly low, convenient entry and thus were suited to short-radius distribution. The price the light LP models had to pay was admittedly a relatively voluminous engine tunnel in the cab.
A hatch on the engine tunnel allowed access to this so-called under-seat engine, through which the driver checked the oil level and also topped up the lubricant if need be. A tilt cab did not arrive in the light-duty class until 1984 with the introduction of the LN series, which replaced the extremely robust and reliable light-duty trucks with their cubic shape.
Nearly 20 years up to date
During its almost 20-year career, the Mercedes-Benz light-duty LP series experienced two major revamps. In 1977, it got off to a good start with a flatter front end as well as headlights relocated from the radiator grille to the bumper, lending it an attractive appearance. It also boasted a whole host of technical improvements – for instance the option of air suspension on the rear axle of the pickup.
The model designation of the basic Mercedes-Benz model now also reflected the slightly improved output of the OM 314 and would now be LP 709. And the family grew larger: new ten- and eleven-ton trucks complemented the range of vehicles for short-radius distribution with low and therefore exceedingly convenient entry. On the medium-duty LP trucks, built in parallel from 1965, the cab was positioned much higher and required a two-step entry (instead of the single step on the light-duty trucks) as they were fitted with an underfloor engine.
Undisputed market domination
Finally in 1979, all the maintenance points on the light-duty LP trucks were relocated to the outside. They could thus continue to hold their own against competitor models despite the fact that tilt cabs were gradually gaining popularity.
When the light-duty LP trucks finally resigned from service in 1984, they were able to look back on a most successful career. Not only had they achieved a market share of almost 50 percent after a mere two years in production but continued to conquer two thirds of their market segment in the course of their 20-year lifetime.
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