When it went into production in 1941, the 1500 quickly found favour with General Rommel’s Afrika Korps for its reliability and resistance to overheating in the desert conditions.
Steyr-Puch Haflinger
Better known simply as the Haflinger, this small, lightweight off-roader was named after the Haflinger horse breed that originated in the Tyrolean Mountains. Like its equine namesake, the Haflinger was brilliant at negotiating rough terrain, aided by four-wheel drive and superb ground clearance. It also weighed just 600kg but could carry four passengers and a cargo of up to 500kg.
Made by Steyr-Daimler-Puch between 1959 and 1974, the Haflinger was powered by a simple 643cc flat-twin engine shared with the Puch 650. By the end of production, 16,647 Haflingers had been built and many are still used for off-roading now.
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer
Inspired by the Haflinger, Steyr-Daimler-Puch came up with the larger scale Pinzgauer, which was named after a type of Austrian cow. The Pinzgauer was primarily aimed as a military vehicle and rival to the Land Rover Series III and Forward Control models. With its cab-over design, the Pinzgauer made the best use of space within its wheelbase while also retaining superb approach and departure angles for off-road use.
Power came from a 2.5-litre air-cooled engine, which was later enlarged to 2.7-litres, until a second-generation model was introduced in 1980 with a Volkswagen six-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The Pinzgauer remained largely unchanged up to 2000, when the manufacturing moved to the UK.
Toyota GR Supra
The latest Toyota Supra shares a great deal with the BMW Z4, so it’s no coincidence the Supra is built in the same factory in Graz, Austria as its Z4 sister car by Magna Steyr. The Supra began production slightly later than the Z4, getting going in March 2019. The first car down the line was finished in a unique specification with matt grey paint, red door mirrors, and carbon fibre inserts for the red leather interior.
It also came with an engine signed by Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota. This car was auctioned in the US and sold for $2.1 million (around €1.8 million), with all the proceeds going to charity. Production ends in March 2026, at the same time as BMW Z4 production ends.