• The special exhibition “Legends on Wheels – Pioneering Spirit, Innovation, Tradition” at the Technik Museum Speyer will run through November 8, 2026.
• Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic is supporting the exhibition as one of several activities during the “130 Years of Trucks” anniversary year.
• The exhibition’s content is being redesigned, including a focus on the 80th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog.
• New exhibits, including several historic Unimog vehicles and the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, will complement the presentation.
• A restored vehicle is being built in the glass workshop and is scheduled to leave the hall ready to drive in the spring of 2026.

Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Speyer – The Technik Museum Speyer is extending the special exhibition “Legends on Wheels – Pioneering Spirit, Innovation, Tradition” through November 8, 2026, and updating it with new content. Since December 21, 2024, the exhibition has showcased historic and modern commercial vehicles spanning more than a century of development in road freight transport. With this extension, the focus shifts to the 80th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. The museum is redesigning the presentation with additional exhibits and providing deeper insights into the history of this versatile vehicle. The extension is one of several activities organized by Mercedes-Benz Classics as part of the “130 Years of Trucks” anniversary year. 

“The extension of the exhibition in Speyer provides an opportunity to gain further insights into key chapters of our commercial vehicle history. It is one of several initiatives we are undertaking to mark the ‘130 Years of Trucks’ anniversary and to illustrate technical developments,” says Bernd Hufendiek of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Classic.

New Focus: The Unimog Through the Ages

With a focus on the Mercedes-Benz Unimog, the museum is showcasing new exhibits, including a 2005 Unimog that competed in the Dakar Rally, a Unimog U 1100 L from the 1970s, and a Unimog 411 from the 1960s. These vehicles exemplify the wide range of possible applications: whether for road maintenance, agriculture, disaster relief, military use, or expeditions and rallies, the Unimog has established itself worldwide as a reliable all-rounder.

Expanded exhibition featuring historic and modern vehicles

In addition to the Unimog showcase and the glass workshop, the exhibition includes other historic commercial vehicles. These vehicles represent different eras and illustrate the brand’s evolutionary trajectory. These additions provide a broad overview of the technical concepts that have shaped commercial vehicle manufacturing over many decades.

A Mercedes-Benz LPS 1626 from the early 1970s, featuring the then-brand-new eight-cylinder V-engine with 256 hp/188 kW, is presented in a colorful and very authentic style typical of the era. It also marks the beginning of tilting cabs on Mercedes-Benz trucks.

With the inclusion of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, the future of road freight transport takes center stage in the exhibition. This battery-electric vehicle for long-haul transport exemplifies current technical developments that build on proven concepts while also responding to new requirements.

The Glass Workshop as an Interactive Exhibition Element

At the heart of the exhibition is the Glass Workshop, a replica of Gottlieb Daimler’s historic garden house. Two former Mercedes-Benz Trucks employees, who are members of the Technik Museum’s Friends Association, work there mostly on Mondays and Tuesdays during the exhibition period on a 1899 Daimler Kardan truck—the oldest exhibit in the special exhibition. The vehicle is being restored and is expected to be able to drive out of the museum hall under its own power again in spring 2026. Following that, another historic restoration project will begin.

Renovation Work and Schedule

The exhibition renovation for the update will take place on March 18 and 19, 2026. Immediately afterward, the exhibition will open with its new content and exhibits.

About the Sinsheim Speyer Technology Museums

The Sinsheim Speyer Technology Museums are operated by the non-profit association Auto + Technik Museum Sinsheim e.V. and have approximately 7,500 members worldwide. In 2025, the two museums welcomed around 1.3 million visitors. Funding comes from admission fees, donations, and membership dues. The museums display more than 6,000 exhibits across over 200,000 square meters of exhibition space 365 days a year—ranging from underwater technology to space travel. The offerings are complemented by numerous special exhibitions, events, and two large-format IMAX theaters.