Introducing the UCG

On May 15, 1993, the time had finally come: We met at Westermann-Holzbau in neighboring Kuppenheim to set the club in motion. This date is the official founding date. The focus was not to be on owning a Unimog, but rather on a passion for this vehicle. This passion can also be expressed through collecting Unimog models, stickers, promotional items, and literature, or through an interest in the history of this versatile vehicle. I was elected president.

We at Gaggenau were fortunate to have many employees who have known the Unimog inside and out for decades—Manfred Florus, for example. After earning his degree in agricultural science in 1949, he began working as an assembly worker on the Unimog production line at Boehringer in Göppingen and spent his entire working life with Unimog—most recently as head of exports.

From the very beginning, he served as a vice president of the Unimog Club Gaggenau and was named an honorary member. He passed away on April 15, 2018.Our former board member and honorary member, Heinz Schnepf, worked exclusively for Unimog for over 40 years, starting with his apprenticeship. He traveled with Unimog to many European countries, as well as to Asia, America, and Africa. His last major adventure was the 1990 Paris-Beijing Rally in a 240 PS Unimog 1300 L. Over the course of four weeks, they had to cover 18,000 kilometers, sometimes under the most extreme conditions. After a long and serious illness, he sadly passed away far too soon on November 11, 2017. We miss Manfred Florus and Heinz Schnepf.

Roland Feix’s life, too, was largely shaped by the Unimog: A Unimog brochure from 1948 fascinated him so much that he began working as an assembly worker in the Unimog hall at Maschinenfabrik Boehringer in Göppingen as early as July 1949. He even helped assemble the 23rd Unimog! Over the course of 44 years, he presented the Unimog at countless trade shows and accompanied it on test drives and demonstrations in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, and throughout Latin America as the regional representative for Latin America. In January 2018, he received the Citizen’s Award from the City of Gaggenau, in particular for his continued volunteer work on behalf of the Unimog.

In 1997, the group was officially recognized as a “registered association” (e. V.), and in the same year, the Lower Bavarian Unimog and MB-trac Enthusiasts joined the Unimog Club Gaggenau. As early as 1998, in my commemorative speech marking our fifth anniversary in Steinmauern, I brought up the idea of a Unimog museum. We found an active supporter in Hans-Jürgen Wischhof, who was then head of the Unimog product division. At the time, however, we were thinking of a small “weekend museum.”

In 1999, the UCG was accepted by Mercedes-Benz Classic into the circle of officially recognized Mercedes-Benz brand clubs. This was in recognition of the club’s many years of successful work. Since 1999, we have been collaborating with the largest Unimog internet portal, www.unimog-community.de.

In 2001, Gaggenau celebrated “50 Years of Mercedes-Benz Unimog” with the support of the UCG. More than 500 Unimog owners drove their vehicles back to the place where they were first built. On this occasion, the people of Gaggenau had to accept, with a heavy heart, that the Unimog division would be relocated to the neighboring Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth starting in 2002. But it turned out to be the right decision.

Once it was decided that the Unimog division would be relocated from Gaggenau to neighboring Wörth, Stefan Schwaab urged us regarding the planned museum: “It’s now or never! You have to strike while the iron is hot!” A working group was formed, consisting of UCG board members Manfred Florus, Hans-Jürgen Schöpfer, and Edwin Westermann. The group evaluated several potential locations and, at that time, favored expanding the existing former Unimog training facility. The relocation of Unimog production spurred the board members on, so that the “Unimog Museum” project was subsequently pushed forward with even greater energy.

From the club’s founding in May 1993 until November 2008, I served as president, steering the UCG’s course. It was now time to bring in younger members to the board. At the 2008 general meeting, Michael Schnepf (secretary since the club’s founding) was elected as my successor. Peter Rebsdat remained vice chair, and Hans-Jürgen Schöpfer was newly appointed to the position. My fellow board members from the very beginning—Roland Feix, Heinz Schnepf, and Manfred Florus—were named UCG honorary members, and I was awarded the title of Honorary Chairman.

The club continued to grow under the new leadership as well. For example, as of April 2009, we had a total of 27 regional groups in Germany (including, since 1995, the independent association “Unimog and MB-trac Friends of Lower Bavaria”) and in neighboring countries (including, also since 1995, the legally independent Unimog Club Switzerland/Liechtenstein). In addition, we had contacts in five other countries. The number of participants at the annual meetings also rose steadily, requiring a significant and exemplary level of staff effort.

In 2010, thanks to a member survey, we received many suggestions for the future direction of our club. Our collaboration with the Unimog division at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth was further strengthened, and so in 2011, the Unimog Club Gaggenau organized, as part of the celebration “60 Years of Mercedes-Benz Unimog,” which included a rally featuring 60 selected Unimogs from the Gaggenau plant to the Wörth plant.

In 2013, Edwin Westermann—after 20 years on the board and as one of the founding members—and Hans-Jürgen Schöpfer—after 15 years on the board—were named honorary members upon their departure from office. As “Minister of Economic Affairs,” Edwin Westermann organized many events, including the annual parts market, which has enjoyed growing popularity. Hans-Jürgen Schöpfer served on the extended board for many years and, since 2008, as vice chairman, focusing on providing advice on legal and organizational matters. He has rendered outstanding service behind the scenes by dedicating countless hours to building up the club’s archives. Within the club community, he is also regarded as an expert on Unimog models.