unimog

Father Markus Lettner restores a Unimog for a good cause.

Four friends with a heart for machines. A priest who can do more than just preach. What started as a small DIY project has grown into a story about a group of great fiends - and the all-rounder on wheels that brings them together.

A Unimog. A feeling.

Whenever he heard the sound of a Unimog nearby, his heart would skip a beat. For Father Markus Lettner, this sound isn't just the rumble of an engine: it’s the sound of his childhood - a piece of home.

His father was the first farmer in Kappelrodeck to use a Unimog – the U 411 with 32 hp and three-way tipper was as much a part of the farm as the tractor and hay fork.

Faith as the foundation.

Markus Lettner studied civil engineering in Karlsruhe. A solid degree, a clear path. But something was missing. Not interest - but depth. He decided to study philosophy and theology: not instead of engineering, but in addition to it. "There's more to life than just technology. But technology remains a part of me."

Serving the community.

In his service as a priest, he often needs practical solutions for a wide range of tasks. Friends gave him the tip: get a Unimog. A Unimog U 406 soon moved into the parish yard. Markus restored the vehicle himself and lovingly maintains it. Now, it is a machine that delivers when it matters – whether that be when working with timber in the church wood or simply going for a drive to enjoy how the gears shift. Markus Lettner explains enthusiastically: “Other people buy expensive cars and enjoy going for a drive in them – as for me, I get to enjoy a fantastic driving feeling in a great tractor machine.”

He now owns a second model: a Unimog U 421 convertible. Both vehicles have names. Both remind him of people who have made his life meaningful. “When I drive them, I often think of the history they have”, says Markus Lettner.

Technology with personality.

The Unimog U 406 is called “Freddy” – named after Markus Lettner’s father. With 84 hp and a six-cylinder OM 352 engine: Freddy is a machine that delivers when it matters.

The Unimog U 421 Cabriolet is nicknamed “Nenimoggerl” and has 52 hp from an old passenger car engine, the OM 621. Lightweight, open, charming. Not a workaholic. A real character.

Father Lettner’s Unimog U 406 “Freddy”

Father Lettner’s Unimog U 421 “Nenimoggel”

Better to work together.

Father Markus Lettner doesn't DIY alone. Bernhard Schönsteiner, Reinhold Eberwein and Helmut Pawlik are always by his side - men with diesel in their blood and a heart for hand-on mechanics.

Bernhard Schönsteiner, a sales engineer from the region, met Markus Lettner while having a beer. They got talking and discovered they had a shared passion for the Unimog. Bernhard Schönsteiner found the first one through a contact in Coburg - a purchase that sealed their screwdriver friendship.

Reinhold Eberwein, a trained agricultural and construction mechanic, brings technical experience from his apprenticeship - and was inspired from the moment he clapped eyes on the Unimog: “Can I restore it with you?” Soon they were standing together at the workbench, welding sheet metal, cursing the rust - and later even flew together to Africa to do voluntary tractor repairs. They still meet in his workshop to this day – it's a place brimming with warmth and ideas.

Bernhard Schönsteiner in front of the Unimog U 406

Reinhold Eberwein in front of the Unimog U 406

Markus Lettner with his screwdriver friends

Helmut Pawlik in front of the Unimog U 406

Helmut Pawlik, test engineer and automotive expert, joined the team through the church community. He has provided professional assistance for each project, right up to when the Unimogs are officially classed as historic vehicles.

The friends have already restored five Unimogs and spent countless hours together. Their passion: DIY. Their drive: laughter. Their mission: to help.

Attention to detail. And what’s next.

For the priest, there are parallels between technology and his faith. "Restoration takes patience. Often things don't work straight away. You have to search, learn, understand. This is similar to how faith grows - with time, with love, with dedication."

The Unimog U 1500 was a very special project. The four DIYers completely restored it – and then sold it. The proceeds went to a rural children’s project in South Africa and also to a leper village in Africa. "It’s a joy when things you’ve created together help others. It's a great feeling."

Helmut Pawlik, Reinhold Eberwein, Markus Lettner and Bernhard Schönsteiner

Unimog? Every time.

Markus Lettner says that if he could do it all again, he would choose the same vehicles: “With the Unimog U 406 and the Unimog U 421 I have had experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life.” When all is said and done, it’s about so much more than just technology. It’s about meaning. And dependability. And the Unimog is perfect for achieving these things.