In January 1967 Daimler-Benz presented the new L 406 D and L 408 vans built at the Düsseldorf plant. The robust construction of these vehicles stood out in particular. The O 309 minibus was one of the variants produced. The van’s flatter bonnet section caught the eye immediately.

Needless to say, there were technical highlights to be found under the bonnet, too. The first ever four-cylinder diesel engine had a displacement of 1988 cc and delivered 55 hp at 4350 rpm, while the four-cylinder petrol unit produced 80 hp at 5000 rpm from identical displacement. The vehicle’s innovative modular construction system allowed a wide variety of model variants.