Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Johann Puch Museum tour

Stephan recently visited the Puch museum in Austria. From Stephan:
"This museum is a privately run place but does get support from Magna Steyr (formerly Steyr Puch). Steyr Puch became famous with the Haflinger and Pinzgauer Offroad models as well as for the Mercedes G models. They also have a great reputation for developing AWD systems for various car manufacturers as well as contract car manufacturing."

Thanks for sharing these photos!






"Opel Omega Wagon: the Cadillac Catera was based on the Omaga, would make for a cool Catera wagon! This particular car was used as a prototype to develop the AWD system for the smaller Opel Vectra. The sign said they stuffed a small block V8 from a Camaro into it and it would do just over 300 km/h"


"Pontiac Aztek: didn’t realize there was an AWD version!"


"VW Gold Country: built for two years only (’90 – ’91), basically a lifted Golf AWD with some cow catchers … this one was way ahead of its time."



"Chrysler 300 Hemi AWD Wagon: not available in the US, where the wagon version was the Dodge Magnum. The AWD system was shared with the Mercedes E class."


"Alfa Romeo 164 4Q AWD: Steyr developed and produced the AWD system for the 164."


"Lincoln Blackwood: a rare sight in the US, who would have thought to see one in Austria?"


"Peugeot RCZ: developed and built by Steyr." 


Aston Martin Rapide body.


Mercedes SLS body.


I had no idea they made Chrysler-Jeeps in Austria. That might explain all those Chrysler products in that one Bourne Identity movie.


2 comments:

  1. Museum looks fantastic. Never knew they did RCZ and Aston. One more to the long list of museums to visit in Europe!

    Fun fact: Cadillac Escalade and CTS were assembled in Kazakhstan for a short period.

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  2. Bit of trivia: the Holden Commodore also has ties to that Opel, and was also made for a while as a V8, 4WD wagon, called the Adventra. It was meant as a rival to the Ford Territory (itself based off the Australian Ford Falcon), but was a flop.

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