The original plan was just to reuse parts of the L 311. But when Jörg Bertgen bought the drop‑side flatbed truck and took a closer look at it, it was obvious what he had to do: restore it.
Transport Magazine
A dream in green.
Jörg Bertgen saves an L 311.
A good decision.
The plan was already made: Jörg Bertgen wanted a Mercedes‑Benz long‑hood truck to use as a flagship for his family’s own fuel dealership and, of course, wanted to use it as a tanker. He purchased a complete vehicle online, but only the body could be saved. Bertgen was therefore faced with a major problem: “I had to find an L 311 on which I could mount the tank”. Not so easy with a truck that was more than 50 years old at the time.
“When I mentioned that I wanted to strip the vehicle for parts, it suddenly went very quiet at the other end.”
But his patience and tenacity paid off. However, fans of classic trucks will not find a tanker on the business premises near Hanover, instead they will see a drop‑side flatbed truck with a tarpaulin. The phone call was quickly made. But “once it became clear that I wanted to strip the truck for parts, it suddenly went very quiet at the other end”, says Bertgen, recalling the seller’s reluctance. But in the end, they made a deal.
Bertgen brought the L 311 home to the company depot. Once there, it turned out that the actual fabric of the vehicle was much better than expected and so the dropside truck was given a second chance. “And when I think now that I’d planned to take the truck to bits”, says Bertgen shaking his head. The interior has remained unchanged and the patina intact since he bought it. The paintwork is the same too. The tanker project had to wait.
Mercedes‑Benz L 311.
Year of construction:
1956
Engine:
OM 312
Output:
100 hp (74 kW)
Displacement:
4,580 cm3
Cylinder arrangement:
6‑cylinder, inline
Transmission:
5‑speed
The model series.
At the end of the 1940s and the beginning of the 1950s, the medium‑duty truck sector was still dominated by petrol engines. That changed with the L 3250. The newly developed OM 312 six‑cylinder engine was impressive from the start with its smooth running and light weight.
The truck was soon renamed the L 3500 and was then able to shoulder 250 kilograms more payload. From 1955 the L 3500 became the L 311. Built in Mannheim until 1961, the design remained basically unchanged for about twelve years.
Extended.
The side walls were fitted with new boards and framed with new profiles. Bertgen attaches great importance to historical accuracy. For example, he replaced the hexagonal screws with square screws and the plastic tarpaulin with one made of canvas. He even found a suitable trailer. Bertgen ended up putting more time into the trailer than into the L 311 itself, which he had actually bought to be a donor vehicle.
Photos & video: Jan Potente