New member from Madrid (mein Deutstch is night so gut)

[mortinson]

After a lot of suspense I finally got my Pinzgauer
A 1971 model 710M...
Bringing it from Montraudat (France) to El Puerto de Santa María (Spain)

Now back at our second home in Southern Spain...

The thing is that every time I took my beloved 1998 Mercedes G300DT off road, I sort of ended up regretting it. Not because I caused too much damage -which all things considered I didn't, most of the resulting repairs were due to 28-years of use and over 400,000 kms driven- but because the G is is such good condition that I did not want to abuse it anymore.

So the plan is to pamper the G from now on. A repaint in its original Brilliant Silver metallic (MB 9744) is on the cards since I dread the most impractical Russian Mafia Black that it now sports. And then light greenlaning around Madrid with it at most.

So the ex-Swiss Army troop carrier Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 710M will now be used for serious offroading in Andalucía. It's got the works: centre tube frame, all-independent suspension, double springs at the rear, hi-low transfercase, 5-speed dog leg manual gearbox, portal axles, rear wheel drive with connectable front axle, front and rear hydraulically operated diff-locks, 24-volt, Ramsey 24v electric winch, Swiss-army towing cable, axe and spade. Unfortunately, no tools or snow chains, but I'll try to source them later.

49,500 recorded kms after the 1,591 km trek to bring it home. 232 litres of E5 petrol at an average of only 16 litres/100 km. But home it is finally. I am amazed at its extraordinary engineering and feel that the Swiss army went a step down by replacing these with the Puch 230GE.... but I suppose that cost was a major concern then.

Love it to bits and this is only the beginning. Fortunately petrol around here is not as expensive as in the rest of Europe. I tanked today at €1,35/litre, compared to € 2 in France...

[Karl dN]

Welcome! I am new, too! Kind regards , Markus

[mortinson]

And a few more pictures of the Pinzi in its new home... a 19th century sherry aging bodega...

[frank]

Welcome and congratulations to your new toy! It seems to be in perfect shape - seems that the previous owner was taking care for it.

Agree, getting rid of the Pinzgauers after only 25 years of service was a bad idea - the Puch G didn't find many friends, at least not in the army.

[Kopinzhagen]

Hello Mortinson!

Be careful, in one of the photos someone is lying under your car

It looks to be in extremely good condition, and having a winch in front is a great bonus! My only recommendation would be to change the winch line from steel to synthetic rope because steel is deadly when it snaps, and you don't know what abuse that line has been put through so far.

Have fun and see you around!

[mortinson]

Hello Mortinson!

Be careful, in one of the photos someone is lying under your car

It looks to be in extremely good condition, and having a winch in front is a great bonus! My only recommendation would be to change the winch line from steel to synthetic rope because steel is deadly when it snaps, and you don't know what abuse that line has been put through so far.

Have fun and see you around!

Absolutely... changing the cable to rope is top of the list... many thanks for your advice!

[eniac]

Finaly also a welcome from my side. Nice Parking Slot and fancy Mirrors on your Pinz
How is the Chance to go Offroad in Spain ? I bet far more better than here.

have al lot of fun, with the Short one

[Aschoelli]

A warm welcome from me too. I’m fairly new here as well, and I’m always thrilled whenever I start up the Pinz. It’s a fantastic vehicle. I’ve treated myself to an extra axle, though

Are you looking for some cool shade under the car?. Just kidding.

Andre

[mortinson]

Finaly also a welcome from my side. Nice Parking Slot and fancy Mirrors on your Pinz
How is the Chance to go Offroad in Spain ? I bet far more better than here.

have al lot of fun, with the Short one

Off-roading in Spain is fairly possible still today, but it is banned from 1st May to 31st October due to fire hazard. However on can still drive on unpaved roads so long that it has a reason (like owning a farm and the such).

I love off-roading in winter in the Guadalajara province (some 80 kms from Madrid), which is one of the least densely populated areas in Europe. One can easily drive for 10 hours and not see one human being...

Yes, getting rid of those impractical Defender mirrors is second on the list. Particularly because when one removes the top of the front doors the mirrors go with them...

[eniac]

Have you visited the Bardenas Reales ? Have read some very nice things about that Part of Spain ..

[mortinson]

Have you visited the Bardenas Reales ? Have read some very nice things about that Part of Spain ..

The Bardenas Reales is an enormous extension of semi-desertic land. It is were the Spanish air force train their aiming skills

I haven't been there, but only because you don't need to travel that far from Madrid to be able to drive serious off-roading. And besides, I like wet weather, not dust when I drive off the road!

[Kopinzhagen]

you don't need to travel that far from Madrid to be able to drive serious off-roading

Sounds cool! Share some pictures, please Terrain can be so varied - rocky, sandy, muddy, forest, ... for comparison, this is where I normally go: https://www.hellsklamm.com

[mortinson]

you don't need to travel that far from Madrid to be able to drive serious off-roading

Sounds cool! Share some pictures, please Terrain can be so varied - rocky, sandy, muddy, forest, ... for comparison, this is where I normally go: https://www.hellsklamm.com

Spain is the second largest country in Europe, and as such it has an impressive variety of landscapes: from African-looking deserts (like the Barcenas Reales or the interior of Almería) to meadows that ere greener than Ireland in the North-West (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country)...and mountains everywhere: Spain is the second most mountaineous country in Europe, only second to Switzerland.

For instance: these are two of our last outings in Cádiz (Andalucia) in February 2026 and December 2025:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MrD6hHTf6ZdKsmkH8
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-todo-terre ... -251628872

https://photos.app.goo.gl/28E1PYVxuEWqkug48
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-todo-terre ... -245420456

This is Sierra Cebollera, in Soria, Northern Castille, February 2024:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aTXWvmvdukhAeuMq8
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-todo-terre ... -160833780

This is the Sierra of Guadalajara, 80 kms North-East from Madrid, January 2018 and November 2015
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2y6SkzE2CsEY1smh6
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-todo-terre ... a-22025927
https://photos.app.goo.gl/V8yUnusokfoqHqkY6
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-todo-terre ... n-11348210

This is Segovia, Castille, April 2010
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MZ72DDyin2kgJmcLA

.... some videos in my Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@mortinsonoffice

[fuerni]

Also a bright welcome from my side!
Nice Pinz you got! I hope you ride it like what it is born for and you’ve also so much fun!

Best regards
Martin