Though I don't have any new photos, the end of last year did have me in contact with BAE in the UK, that fruited some basic numbers for Pinzgauers made in the UK., and more questions.
For reference, TD Pinzgauer VINs start at #1 and continue up year after year (never reset to 1), even with the factory moving from Austria to the UK. Only the WMI (world manufacturer identifier) code changed from VAG to SFF.
Notes added to a UK VIN breakdown sheet has UK (soft skin) Pinzes starting at #6001, and armoured variants (aka Vector) starting at 7001.
On another sheet, the # vary a bit as UK production went from #6032 to # 7242, but Vector prototype 1 was chassis # 7061 to #7242 (making a total of 181). The total UK Pinzgauer production stands at 1210 by these numbers.
Because of conflicting references, were chassis's between 6001 and 6031 made in Austria, or units assembled and completed in the UK after the ATL opened factory? or those number not utilized?
Things get more interesting, at least for me and my Pinz. ATL published newsletters announcing large sales contracts. The two most notably were the New Zealand LOV (Light Operational Vehicle) for approx 336 vehicles and another to MoD for 400 716MK (4x4 ,3 door hardtop). If the number total were made, it comes to 736 vehicles, all
RHD. This does not take into account any of the general troop vehicles in use with the British army (716M, 718M or High Volume Bodies or ambulances). After removing another 181 Vectors leaves less than 300 vehicles for MoD and any other contract that ATL had for a Pinzgauer.
After dwelling on this a while, I asked about UK made LHD Pinzes , and the reply was that any LHD Pinz made in the UK would be very low volume almost custom vehicles.
So, I already knew my truck was a special order as a sales demonstrator for Stewart/Stevenson, so it fits the custom bill,
![Laughing :lol: :lol:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I just wonder how many more were made?
ATL was pitching the 718 to the US Marine Corps as a gun tractor for the M777 Howitzer, but never happened, and supposedly, the Navy ordered a few.
A earlier ATL's newsletter also has order of a LHD to Saudi Arabia, unfortunately I can't tell for sure if they are UK or Austrian made, and SDP and ATL both used photos of older model Pinzgauers in literature and newsletters. From the exterior, I can't tell a P93 from the last Pinzes except from the later ones have different badging, and on the interior, trucks with the 2.5TDI have a completely different engine "doghouse".