Mercedes built a cheap amphibious vehicle that you've likely never heard of

Mercedes has built everything from opulent limousines to military trucks, but its strangest creation might be the amphibious vehicle known as the Hägglunds M973A1 SUSV.

Designed for extreme environments rather than city streets, this tracked machine looks more at home crossing frozen tundra than cruising a boulevard.

It was built in low volumes for a very specific mission.

Surprisingly, one was recently found in an auction, allowing civilians to get their hands on the rare car.

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It will cost you six figures to get your hands on one

The Hägglunds M973A1 Small Unit Support Vehicle, or SUSV, entered service with the US Army in August 1989 as a highly specialized transport platform.

Based on the Swedish Hägglunds BV206, it was engineered to move troops and equipment across terrain that would stop conventional vehicles in their tracks.

Snow, mud, sand, swamps, and even open water were all part of its intended operating environment.

Unlike most military hardware, one example has now crossed into civilian hands, appearing on Bring a Trailer after entering private ownership in 2024.

It sold for $113,111, which isn’t cheap, but well worth the price for such a unique machine.

Powering this unusual amphibious vehicle is a 3.0-liter Mercedes-Benz OM603 turbodiesel inline-six, producing roughly 136 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque.

These numbers sound modest, especially compared to many other Mercedes vehicles, until you remember this one is all about torque and traction.

A four-speed automatic transmission sends power to a four-track-drive system, eliminating the need for manual shifting while crawling over hostile terrain.

Its on-road performance is also pretty irrelevant, given that it is strictly an off-road vehicle.

This amphibious vehicle is right at home in the water

What truly sets the Hägglunds M973A1 SUSV apart from most other cars is its amphibious capability.

Rubber tracks allow it to float and propel itself through water, while bilge pumps help manage any unwanted leaks.

It also features a fire suppression system and a roof escape hatch, additions made after early reports of front-module fires during military service.

Surprisingly, comfort wasn’t ignored.

This particular example features a reupholstered interior, a heater, and a 24-volt electrical system.

Despite its intimidating presence, the SUSV shows just 5,000 kilometers (around 3,100 miles) on its gauges, which is hardly surprising given how few places it can be driven.

And while the speedometer tops out at 80km/h (49mph), speed was never the goal.

This isn’t a sleek supercar with out-of-this-world horsepower numbers trying to break records.

Instead, the Hägglunds M973A1 SUSV is a nearly indestructible amphibious vehicle that can overcome almost any terrain you throw at it.

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