Magna Steyr Haflinger History

Named after the sure-footed Austrian mountain pony, the Haflinger was developed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch to replace aging wartime jeeps in alpine conditions. Unveiled in 1959, it was a compact, air-cooled rear-engine 4×4 with a wheelbase barely over a metre, independent all-round suspension, and remarkable off-road capability for its size. The engine was a 643 cc opposed-twin producing around 22 hp.

Over 16,000 Haflingers were produced between 1959 and 1974, serving military units, farmers, mountain-rescue teams, and ski resorts across Austria and export markets. The Haflinger was succeeded by the larger, more capable Pinzgauer in 1971, though production of both overlapped for three years. Today the Haflinger is a sought-after collector vehicle and off-road cult classic.