The MAN 630 (L2 A5) was such a ferocious looking truck that it earned the nickname “omnivore”. A 5 ton truck primarily designed for the military the MAN 630 had an 8.3 litre diesel engine (Model D 1246) with 6-speed gearbox. What was unique about it’s engine was it's multi-fuel capability and so could take not only diesel, but also run on petrol-diesel mix and even pure engine oil, in case of an emergency. 

Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG or MAN’s first interaction with India was way back in 1936, when one of the field representatives came here to sell their popular truck Typ S1H6 model. But that didn’t pave much results as he could sell only six trucks that he brought along.

Much later in 1958, MAN tasted success when it got it’s first order from the Govt. of India for 30 chassis for MAN 630’s younger brother i.e. MAN 415 (L1 AR). A truck model with a smaller payload capacity of 4 tons these were fitted with 6-cylinder MAN diesel engines. Made specifically for the Indian market, the MAN 415 was initially imported from Germany in 4x2 and 4x4 configuration with a flatbed covered with tarpaulin.

By 1959 the Government of India started making these vehicles locally at the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Now, called SHAKTIMAN* these were produced for the next 37 years. By 1996 over 70,000 units rolled out from the Jabalpur factory in various configurations such as troop carrier, field ambulance, field workshop, communication van, etc. These were used largely by the Indian Army and saw action in various wars in 1963 (Sino-India war), 1965 (Indo-Pak war), 1971 (Liberation of Bangladesh) and 1991 (Kargil war). Today they are no longer used by the Indian Army and have since been retired.

# this scale model is discounted and is also available in smaller scale size of 1:87^

* great strength, in Hindi

^ available in 1:87 scale @ MAN 630