Revised Pinzgauer Design

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:53 pm

The Australian Military is currently looking to renew it existing but ageing fleet of Land Rovers, Unimogs and Mack's with new vehicles.

The 121 Overlander contract has seen interest from a number of Companies, including Armor Holdings (AT/S&S representative) who are submitting the Pinzgauer and various models of the S&S truck range.

Many of the competiting companies are displaying their "offerings" at the current Avalon Air Show in Melbourne.
http://www.airshow.net.au/

Armor had a 6X6 OAV (or WP as they are now calling it) on display:

On a personal note, whilst I understand the bulk of the vehicle is basically as previous models I personally think the new front design is TERRIBLE!

I realise I'm probably going to get some flak over this but....
.... If a Designer came up with that concept then they should go back to College where they got there degree and ask for their money back ....OR.... MAYBE the company should employ a designer rather than get the janitor to do the design work.

Fortunately I believe the "front" is a prototype only, so maybe AT / S&S / Armor will come to their senses and design a front applicable, and in keeping with what the vehicle deserves.

milesdzyn · Post by **milesdzyn** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:04 am

Peter...I agree with you on the front end design, It's just to bulky looking compared to the rest of the barebones platform, plus everyone knows angles have a slimming effect. But I do like the dual tanks, 60 gallons? 30+30 ? Would be nice if I could afford it at this time. Also the seats look a little on the high side at the seat. And who wouldn't like a machine gun mount within easy reach at rush hour

Miles

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:17 am

G'Day Miles,

I've spoken to a number of people who have seen those latest pics and no-one has had a nice word to say about the new front design.
The "most gracious" comment so far is that the front looks like an ICECREAM truck

Also the seats look a little on the high side at the seat

Apparantly the military test drivers weren't happy with the seats initially... they were just TOO tight on the bum, so they have now "widened" them.

The Aussie test drivers must have been eating too many ICECREAMS!

lindenengineering · Post by **lindenengineering** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:05 am

Hey Peter
I agree, when I first saw your post on the "other" forum my immediate thought was - Bugger they've used the front of a 1960'/70s Mr Softee Vauxhall/Bedford specialty ice cream truck!
Did you have those things down under when you wuz a kid mate?

Seriously though, since the Pinzgauer is carving out a dual role (civvi & mil) they probably went for a frontal moulding (looks like a moulding) for a demountable bonnet cover for the engine pod. This give the manufacturers the chance to gauge reaction from likely customers and to change "easily' the frontal shape to accomodate future customer preferences/requirements like armour.

Making factory dies for pressed steel more or less carves the panel in stone so far as costings are concerned.
Dennis

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:47 pm

G'Day Dennis,

How goes it?
We never had "Mr Softee" icecreams but we did have "Mr Whippy" ....he used old Ford Transits.

Your right though, that new front reminds me of an old Commer Q4!

As regards the practically of the new design, I understand that there may be advantages to changing the current unit, but as I always say to students and clients alike (I've got my Industial Designers hat on now

) "it doesn't cost anything extra to design something that looks good and that is still functional" .... in other words there is NO excuse for bad aesthetic design!

For me a nice example of a recent military design is the JCB HMUV
Good functional design, with "pleasing" aesthetic form .....The original Pinzgauer was a perfect example of this harmonious design principle.

lindenengineering · Post by **lindenengineering** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:20 pm

Peter.
Hello mate, yes we had Mr Whippy over there too, did they have that illuminated big plastic ice cream cone on the front above the windscreen?

Yes some of 'em were Commers come to think of it. Evan Hillman being a Rootes Group fan should take heart!

Yes I agree with you on the design and yes that Bamfords Mil truck looks very nice, but then JCB can even design an excavator to look sharp.
Dennis