Mercedes-Benz TN


In 1977 Daimler-Benz introduced a new van/truck, called Mercedes-Benz T1 internally. Other designations were series TN and Bremer Transporter, since the vehicle was built in the Transporter-Plant in Bremen, Germany, first. In the years 1983/1984 production went - piece by piece - to the Transporter-Plant-Düsseldorf. The internal chassis-designations are: 601, 602 and 611.

Design

The TN/T1 was available as a minibus or fitted with a cargo box body or flat cargo bed. A double cab version was offered in the latter two configurations. Three wheelbases were available, with gross weight ratings ranging from 2.55 to 4.6 tonnes. Mercedes-Benz-built gasoline or diesel engines were available as powerplant options for the rear-wheel drive chassis. The best known 4x4 Versions of the Mercedes-Benz TN/T1 were made by Iglhaut by adjusting parts of the G-Wagen to the TN/T1-chassis. The TN/T1 van was also used as a campervan conversion, being much larger than the Volkswagen Transporter. In 1995, after 18 years of production, the TN/T1 van series was discontinued, succeeded by the T1N "Sprinter".
In the Philippines a rebadged version of the Mercedes-Benz T1 called Togo Atlas is locally made by Morales Motors. The Atlas is also offered as minibus or chassis cab for jeepneys and utility trucks.

History

The TN/T1 van model series included 207 D, 208, 307 D and 308. They debuted in April 1977. The original line was composed of two engines and four weight classes, as follows:
  • 207 D, 208 - gross weight or
  • 307 D, 308 - gross weight or
  • 207 D, 307 D - four-cylinder Diesel engine with 2404 cc and engine OM 616, nearly the same engine as in Mercedes-Benz 240 D and 240 GD.
  • 208, 308 - four-cylinder petrol engine with 2307 cc and engine M 115, nearly the same engine as in Mercedes-Benz 230 -"Lowcompression-Export-Version".
Market share was almost 90% for the Diesel engine and a little more than 10% for the petrol engine. While the petrol engine was mainly used for ambulances, firetrucks, special vans for cold areas, commercial buyers preferred the Diesel engine for its lower fuel consumption and best reliability. In the UK, originally only diesel engines were on offer, but as the British market was 80 percent petrol at the time sales were poor. For 1982 petrol models were added, and sales immediately increased by 80 percent. The body styles were panel van, different versions of window vans, pickup and pickup with double cab.
Already the power outputs for the 4-cylinder engines were very good, so the 307 D was one of the fastest 3.5 ton Diesel-Vans in Europe of the late 1970s. Low gearing also meant that the vans were capable pullers, able to make best use of the power available whilst returning surprisingly good fuel economy for the large size and weight of vehicle.
In September 1981 the 407 D, 409 D and 410 were added with a gross weight of. The 409 D had a bigger and more powerful diesel engine with five cylinders, 2998 cc and. It was the OM 617 engine which was also used in the Mercedes-Benz 300 D passenger car and 300 GD G-Wagon. Other revisions throughout the production were minor, the OM 616 engine having a modified cylinder head and less bore which lowered the capacity from 2404 cc to 2399 cc, but producing slightly more power and using 5-speed-gearboxes instead of the early 4-speed-versions.
In autumn 1988, two new diesel engines - called OM 601/23 and OM 602/29 - were offered, awarded the "Diesel 1989" award.
After 18 years of production, 970,000 of the Bremer Transporter were produced. In 1995 the Mercedes-Benz T1N Sprinter was launched, replacing the T1.

Models

TN / T1 Diesel
ModelEngineCylindersDisplacementMax. power / rpmMax. torque / rpmYears
207 D / 307 D / 407 DOM616 42404 cc / 4200137 NM / 24001977–1982
207 D / 307 DOM615 41988 cc / 4200113 NM / 240008.1977 – 10.1985***
207 D / 307 D / 407 DOM616 42399 cc / 4400137 Nm / 24001982–1988
208 D / 308 D / 408 DOM601 42299 cc / 3800
157 Nm / 2000–28001989–1995
209 D / 309 D / 409 DOM617 52998 cc / 4400160 Nm / 24001982–1988
209 D / 309 D / 409 DOM602 52497 cc / 4400**154 Nm / 2400**1989–1993
210 D / 310 D / 410 DOM602 52874 cc / 3800
  		• 192 Nm / 2400–26001989–1995
    * with automatic transmission only, ** for Belgium only, *** for Italy onlyTN / T1 Petrol
    ModelEngineCylindersDisplacementMax. Power / rpmMax.torque / rpmYears
    208 / 308M115 42307 cc / 4800160 Nm / 20001977–1982
    210 / 310 / 410M102 42299 cc / 5200170 Nm / 25001982–1988
    210 / 310 / 410M102 42299 cc / 5100182 Nm / 2000–27001989–1995

    TN / T1 Electro
    ModelEngineCylindersDisplacementMax. Power / rpmMax.torque / rpmYears
    307 EE-Engine2 x 90 volt1978–1980?

    The internal chassis designations:
    601 - 2.55–2.8 t
    602 - 3.2–3.5 t
    611 - 4.6 t
    Engine type:
    • 601.0/602.0/611.0 - gasoline engine
    • 601.3/602.3/611.3 - diesel engine 4cyl OM616 or OM601
    • 601.4/602.4/611.4 - diesel engine 5cyl OM617 or OM602
    Body type:
    • 6XX.X1 - high-bed
    • 6XX.X2 - low-bed
    • 6XX.X6 - van
    • 6XX.X7 - bus
    Wheelbase:
    • 6XX.XX1/6XX.XX6 - 3050 mm
    • 6XX.XX2/6XX.XX7 - 3350 mm
    • 6XX.XX8 - 3700 mm
    Example: 601.426 - 209 D / 210 D, low bed, wheelbase 3050 mm