... you are being much to harsh on the Iltis. Rather than being remembered in a poor light, the release and sale of some 2,200 to the Canadian public will assure the Iltis an honoured place in Canadian military history. Everytime a restored Iltis drives by, I for one will remember just how stupid the Liberal government of the day was in asking that little truck to do so many jobs for which it was NEVER designed. Never again, I hope.
And yet, for years, it did them all, remarkably well. As a taxpayer I feel that I got my money's worth, for sure. And will continue to do so for years more in the one that I bought at auction, last year. As long as I remember that its a 'jeep', not a tank, I'm sure that it will do just fine in whatever terrain that I point it into.
I doubt that the troopers nor their commanders were happy with the marching orders received from their political masters back then but in so many places around the world, they (and their lltis) got the job done.
Added a few hours later ...
"You know what sped it along and why the G-Wagen was adopted
A $126-million contract was awarded to Mercedes Benz Canada on
October 21, for the procurement of 802 G Wagons and 118 armour
protection systems (APS). The contract includes an unfunded option to
buy up to 499 additional vehicles and up to 135 additional APS kits
at an additional cost of $99.4 million—an additional 42 APS were
purchased under this option in December 2003 for $4.44 million
bringing the total number of APS kits to 160.
Production for the G-Class will remain at the Magna Steyr Plant in
Graz, Austria, where over 185,000 have been produced throughout the
years.
KEY WORD HERE IS **MAGNA**
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...15/ai_85095821
Canada's Magna International Inc. acquired control of Steyr-Daimler-
Puch in 1998, giving Magna, one of the world's largest auto
suppliers, the ability to produce whole vehicles.
Now who is the Liberal Politician, former president and chief
executive officer of Magna International, a major automotive supplier
founded by her father ?
The Honourable (?) Belinda Stronach...
2002 - Magna opens new plant and begins assembling vehicles
2004 - Belinda quits Magna and pursues politics full time
2005 - Belinda Stronach crosses floor to Liberal party
2005 - G-wagens are ordered - built by Magna Automotive
2007 - Belinda leaves politics to return to run Magna
Sounds like another Liberal back-patting/scratching party to me..."
I have no idea if the above posting is true or not as I found it, as presented above, elsewhere.
Can anyone provide confirmation ?
Robert in Toronto
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