In the early 1990’s the Swiss Army put out a tender to supply a fleet of 2000 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles to replace it’s fleet of Austrian Steyr Daimler Puch Pinzgauer’s that went out of production in 1976.

Swiss Company Bucher, which traces it’s origins back to 1807, won the contract through it’s Geyer sometimes known as Guyer division with it’s Duro model supplying the initial order between 1994 and 1999.

The Duro was originally powered by a 150hp VM EP638LI, 3749cc / 228 cui straight six turbo charged diesel engine that drives all four wheels through a four speed automatic gearbox with one central and two axle differentials.

To keep the wheels parallel and improve ground clearance the Duro employs a novel, for 4×4 and 6×6 applications, all wheel De Dion suspension with the dead axle De Dion tubes curved upwards.

The disc brakes are mounted in board to reduce unsprung weight and as in Unimog’s the hubs incorporate reduction gears.

Top speed of the aluminium bodied Duro on the road is 62.5 mph, in 2003 General Dynamics MOWAG division acquired the rights to build the Duro and has developed it from it’s original specifications out lined here.

Today’s featured right hand drive Duro was built in 1994 and first registered for civilian use in the UK on the September 1st, 2001.

Thanks for joining me on this “All Wheel De Dion Suspension” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a 1929 Packard. Don’t forget to come back now !