WEBVTT 1 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:17.958 We actually started with a 2 00:00:17.958 --> 00:00:21.458 Unimog U 406. 3 00:00:21.958 --> 00:00:25.625 This was followed by a Unimog U 1500, which, when I bought it with my 4 00:00:25.708 --> 00:00:26.875 friends, was also ready 5 00:00:26.958 --> 00:00:29.666 for the scrap heap. 6 00:00:29.875 --> 00:00:31.833 We undid every last screw and then 7 00:00:31.916 --> 00:00:33.958 rebuilt it. We then 8 00:00:34.041 --> 00:00:36.541 resold it and used the proceeds 9 00:00:36.625 --> 00:00:38.791 to support community projects. 10 00:00:40.750 --> 00:00:43.875 My name is Markus Lettner, I’m 52 11 00:00:43.958 --> 00:00:46.291 years old, I’m the priest 12 00:00:46.375 --> 00:00:48.625 from the parish 13 00:00:48.875 --> 00:00:50.916 St. Ulrich in Hohenfels, where I'm 14 00:00:50.916 --> 00:00:52.166 responsible for pastoral care 15 00:00:52.250 --> 00:00:54.833 here. I also teach RE for 16 00:00:55.125 --> 00:00:56.875 year two, 17 00:00:56.958 --> 00:00:57.958 three and four 18 00:00:58.041 --> 00:00:59.375 at the primary school. 19 00:01:03.791 --> 00:01:06.166 Unimog has most definitely been part of my life 20 00:01:06.250 --> 00:01:07.458 from childhood. 21 00:01:07.791 --> 00:01:10.375 I grew up on a 22 00:01:10.458 --> 00:01:11.458 farm 23 00:01:11.541 --> 00:01:12.666 with my five brothers. 24 00:01:13.375 --> 00:01:16.458 If we heard an engine that we 25 00:01:16.541 --> 00:01:18.541 identified as belonging 26 00:01:18.625 --> 00:01:20.166 to a Unimog, our hearts would 27 00:01:20.583 --> 00:01:22.541 start racing. 28 00:01:23.541 --> 00:01:28.041 I currently drive a Unimog U 406, 6 29 00:01:28.125 --> 00:01:32.000 cylinder with 84 hp, the OM 362. 30 00:01:32.541 --> 00:01:33.458 I also have 31 00:01:33.541 --> 00:01:36.083 a Unimog U 421 convertible. 32 00:01:36.708 --> 00:01:38.875 Especially when I’m driving the small convertible 33 00:01:38.958 --> 00:01:40.541 on the road, of course 34 00:01:40.625 --> 00:01:42.208 all eyes are 35 00:01:42.666 --> 00:01:44.083 on me, 36 00:01:44.166 --> 00:01:45.333 I'm very aware of that. 37 00:01:45.416 --> 00:01:47.291 When people talk about the priest and 38 00:01:47.375 --> 00:01:48.791 talk about the church, they 39 00:01:49.541 --> 00:01:50.625 think of that Unimog! 40 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:56.625 As a priest, I also take 41 00:01:56.708 --> 00:01:59.750 on lots of responsibility for properties, for 42 00:01:59.833 --> 00:02:02.083 real estate, for a 43 00:02:02.166 --> 00:02:04.291 large garden area. And here in 44 00:02:04.375 --> 00:02:06.041 Hohenfels, specifically for the 45 00:02:06.125 --> 00:02:07.833 40 hectares of forest, 46 00:02:08.458 --> 00:02:10.125 which need to be reforested 47 00:02:10.208 --> 00:02:11.750 and managed. 48 00:02:13.041 --> 00:02:15.416 I learned through 49 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:16.791 various friends that 50 00:02:17.166 --> 00:02:18.958 a Unimog was 51 00:02:19.041 --> 00:02:21.541 up for sale. I bought it as a 52 00:02:21.625 --> 00:02:23.083 scrap vehicle, it was 53 00:02:23.166 --> 00:02:25.416 restored and then I used it 54 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:27.916 in the parish as a transport vehicle 55 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:29.791 and as a tractor unit. 56 00:02:36.291 --> 00:02:38.375 I’ve known Markus since 2012, when he 57 00:02:38.458 --> 00:02:40.375 started with us in the parish. 58 00:02:40.458 --> 00:02:40.958 My 59 00:02:41.041 --> 00:02:43.041 daughter was a server at the time. 60 00:02:43.291 --> 00:02:44.708 And then we got talking 61 00:02:44.791 --> 00:02:46.875 and we just noticed that we loved 62 00:02:46.875 --> 00:02:48.041 talking about 63 00:02:48.041 --> 00:02:50.083 the Unimog and 64 00:02:50.166 --> 00:02:51.666 we got on so well and so 65 00:02:51.750 --> 00:02:52.375 we've actually 66 00:02:52.458 --> 00:02:53.500 started meeting up more. 67 00:02:53.916 --> 00:02:55.208 Yes, the screws on the Unimog 68 00:02:55.291 --> 00:02:56.083 strengthened our 69 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:57.416 friendship! We 70 00:02:57.500 --> 00:02:58.791 were together most days. 71 00:02:59.333 --> 00:03:01.375 The first Unimog to be restored 72 00:03:01.458 --> 00:03:03.500 was this one. 73 00:03:04.291 --> 00:03:05.333 Could we do it? 74 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:09.208 We did everything with the utmost care 75 00:03:09.291 --> 00:03:10.458 from the very first 76 00:03:10.541 --> 00:03:13.041 screw - from disassembly 77 00:03:13.583 --> 00:03:17.166 to reassembly. 78 00:03:17.416 --> 00:03:18.041 Then we 79 00:03:18.041 --> 00:03:20.500 checked everything and filled out the 80 00:03:20.583 --> 00:03:23.333 documents for the historic vehicle registration number. 81 00:03:23.416 --> 00:03:23.833 Then we 82 00:03:23.916 --> 00:03:24.500 put it all 83 00:03:25.125 --> 00:03:27.916 together. That's how we and Markus restored 84 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.000 the first Unimog. 85 00:03:29.708 --> 00:03:31.291 One Unimog then turned into five. 86 00:03:34.125 --> 00:03:35.833 And that was really fun. 87 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:38.958 We've also provided services in Africa 88 00:03:39.041 --> 00:03:39.958 and repaired 89 00:03:40.041 --> 00:03:42.083 tractors and equipment. 90 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:43.500 We had a great time. 91 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.291 During the restoration work, I 92 00:03:51.375 --> 00:03:53.375 definitely learned the most. 93 00:03:54.250 --> 00:03:56.541 I’ve also made friends 94 00:03:56.833 --> 00:03:58.583 who I meet regularly with 95 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:02.166 and talk shop about 96 00:04:02.250 --> 00:04:05.000 various technical things with. 97 00:04:05.666 --> 00:04:07.333 But that’s not all. 98 00:04:08.375 --> 00:04:10.291 We often end up having very 99 00:04:10.375 --> 00:04:12.583 personal conversations, not least 100 00:04:12.666 --> 00:04:14.666 about religion. 101 00:04:15.333 --> 00:04:18.250 The restoration of the Unimog U 1500 generated a tidy sum 102 00:04:18.333 --> 00:04:20.166 of money for us, which enabled us 103 00:04:20.250 --> 00:04:22.125 to support two projects. 104 00:04:22.833 --> 00:04:24.458 One was a project in Spier, 105 00:04:24.541 --> 00:04:26.083 South Africa, for rural children, 106 00:04:26.166 --> 00:04:28.166 which I have supported for 15 years. 107 00:04:28.833 --> 00:04:32.375 And at the Nellore diocese with my good friend 108 00:04:32.458 --> 00:04:33.500 Bishop Moses Prakasam: 109 00:04:33.583 --> 00:04:34.666 I also supported 110 00:04:35.291 --> 00:04:37.083 his 111 00:04:37.166 --> 00:04:38.791 project 112 00:04:38.875 --> 00:04:40.291 in a Lebra village. 113 00:04:41.125 --> 00:04:45.500 When a Unimog is repaired, that means 114 00:04:45.583 --> 00:04:47.541 it has been restored to exactly 115 00:04:47.875 --> 00:04:51.416 or very close to 116 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:53.250 its original state: 117 00:04:53.625 --> 00:04:57.541 that is pure adrenaline and it's a great feeling for 118 00:04:57.625 --> 00:05:00.375 all those involved 119 00:05:01.208 --> 00:05:03.416 in the vehicle, 120 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:05.250 getting their fingers dirty. 121 00:05:05.625 --> 00:05:08.458 And we always throw 122 00:05:08.541 --> 00:05:10.708 a small party, 123 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:13.708 where we come together and make a toast to 124 00:05:13.791 --> 00:05:17.000 what we have achieved together. 125 00:05:22.166 --> 00:05:23.666 If I could choose 126 00:05:23.750 --> 00:05:25.291 a Unimog, 127 00:05:25.625 --> 00:05:27.041 I would choose exactly 128 00:05:27.125 --> 00:05:29.041 the same one 129 00:05:29.625 --> 00:05:31.708 because with the two vehicles I currently 130 00:05:31.791 --> 00:05:34.250 have - Unimog U 406 and Unimog U 421 - 131 00:05:35.083 --> 00:05:37.125 my experience has been very positive. 132 00:05:37.208 --> 00:05:39.541 I wouldn't change anything.