This was the first indeed light but authentic truck from Mercedes, which was produced promptly in the newly built plant in Wörth. Daimler-Benz will henceforth close any gap in the truck program. Auto Union was sold to Volkswagen and thus decided not to get into the lower middle class. For this was forced the truck range.

Also interesting that one retained the plant Düsseldorf of the Auto Union. It was the basis for the production of the transporter series with the same name and now has a crucial function for this. Approximately at the same time took place the partial respectively complete takeover of Hanomag-Henschel in 1970. It concerned, except in the case Henschel, however smaller vehicles compared with the LP 608.

One could have also written L 608, because the 'P' stands for 'Pullman cabin', in this case, the designation for the cab which offered more space and better clear view. It was thus a cab-over truck with initially still 6.5 t maximum permissible gross laden weight. The were afterwards increased to 7.5 tons. The L 608 was thus still ridable with the driving license customary for car class 3 at that time.

For trucks typically the engine had much displacement despite only four cylinders and was as an early direct-injection also for the truck sector, indeed economically, but still quite loud. It was guest in the cab by its position under the seat. This was also called cubic cabin because of its shape. It differed (but only initially) from the large trucks by lamps in the radiator grill and not in the front bumper. It was also not to tilt.

To continue the series of the manufacturing facilities already started, the trucks were built over 7.5 tonnes in Mannheim. 05/14