Mercedes Benz L312/48
Built: 1956-1957 · Series: L312
More machines from model year 1956
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Mercedes-Benz L 312 – an L-series truck of the 1950s and 1960s with the six-cylinder OM 312 diesel, 4,580 cm³, 74 to 81 kW, gross weights from 7 to 9.25 tonnes
The Mercedes-Benz L 312 belongs to the L series of trucks that Mercedes-Benz built in the 1950s and 1960s at the Mannheim plant, the brand's home plant for commercial vehicles. The L in the type designation stands for Lastwagen, truck; the L 312 is powered by the six-cylinder OM 312 diesel engine of around 4.6 litres, which motorised several ranges of the mid-weight class in this period.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 6 versions with 74 to 81 kW from the six-cylinder diesel of 4,580 cm³, unladen weights from 3,057 to 4,700 kg, gross weights from 7,000 to 9,250 kg, lengths from 6,210 to 8,230 mm and widths from 2,250 to 2,400 mm.
The Mannheim L series formed the backbone of West German long-haul transport and construction in the 1950s and 1960s, before being replaced by the new generation with short-bonnet and forward-control cabs. Vehicles such as the L 312 sat in the mid-to-upper weight segment and were bodied as flatbeds, tippers and box vans. Many surviving examples today serve as static exhibits or take part in vintage commercial-vehicle rallies rather than daily transport.
On a used example, rust on the frame, cab floor and wings, the condition of the injection pump and valves of the OM 312, the brake system and wheel bearings, and the completeness of the body and fittings count; spare parts for the OM 312 are available through dealers specialising in classic commercial vehicles.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Mercedes-Benz L 312, Mercedes-Benz (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 6correct |
|---|
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 8,100 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,400 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 4,850 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 4,700 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 9,250 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Mercedes Benz L312/48 weigh?
The unladen weight is 4,700 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Mercedes Benz L312/48?
9,250 kg.
What engine does the Mercedes Benz L312/48 have?
6 cylinders.
What are the dimensions of the Mercedes Benz L312/48?
8,100 mm × 2,400 mm.
When was the Mercedes Benz L312/48 built?
Production years: 1956-1957.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
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